Filled with ricotta and cream cheese and topped with blueberries and honey, enjoy these delicious blintzes during and even after the Passover holiday!
Blueberry Cheese Blintzes
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
For Blintzes:
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/3 cup matzo meal
1/3 cup potato starch
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 stick butter, for cooking the blintzes
2tablespoons vegetable oil, for frying
For Filling:
1/4 cuphoney
2 tsp. vanilla
zest of 1 orange
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 cupricotta cheese
2 cups (12 oz.)blueberries, divided
For Topping:
remaining 1 cup blueberries
powdered sugar
honey
DIRECTIONS:
Whisk together the eggs, milk, matzo meal, potato starch and salt, refrigerate for one hour or overnight. Stir together the honey, vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon, cream cheese and ricotta. Fold in 1 cup of the blueberries. Refrigerate.
Melt the butter and vegetable oil together in a small bowl in the microwave. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat, swirl a spoonful of the butter and oil mixture over the surface of the pan.
Whisk the blintz batter to recombine then ladle about 2 oz. of the batter into the pan, swirling the batter to cover the bottom of the pan in a thin layer. Cook for about 1 1/2 minutes or until the blintz begins to set and turn golden brown on the bottom. Flip the blintz over with a spatula and cook for an additional minute on the other side. Remove the blintz to a sheet pan and continue to cook all the batter.
Assemble the blintzes by placing 1/4 cup of the filling in the center, fold in both sides and roll up.
Place blintzes in a shallow pan and reheat for 15 minutes in a 350°F oven or you can microwave them for 2 to 3 minutes.
Place two blintzes on each plate and serve with additional blueberries, powdered sugar and honey!
TIP: You can make the blintzes ahead of time and heat them up when you are ready to serve. Also, try different fruit topping combinations like blackberry and raspberry.
Blueberries have
been known to lower blood pressure. METRO photo
Over 77 percent of hypertension is uncontrolled.
By David Dunaief, M.D.
Dr. David Dunaief
You would think that, with all the attention we place on hypertension and all the medications in the market that focus on reducing it, we would be doing better in the U.S., statistically.
According to the latest data, almost 120 million U.S. adults, or 48.1 percent of the population, suffer from hypertension (1). Of these, only 22.5 percent have their blood pressure controlled to less than 130/80 mmHg.
For the remaining 92.9 million affected, their risk of complications, such as cardiovascular events and mortality, is significantly higher.
What has the greatest impact on your risk of developing hypertension?
In an observational study involving 2,763 participants, results showed that the top three influencers on the risk of developing high blood pressure were eating a poor diet, with 2.19 times increased risk; being at least modestly overweight, with 1.87 times increased risk; and cigarette smoking, which increased risk 1.83 times (2).
What increases our risk ofhypertension complications?
Being significantly overweight or obese, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, family history, age, increased sodium, depression, diabetes, low vitamin D, and too much alcohol are some of the factors that increase our risk (3). The good news is that you can take an active role in improving your risk profile (4).
Who is at greater risk of complications, men or women?
One of the most feared complications of hypertension is cardiovascular disease. A study found that isolated systolic (top number) hypertension increased the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in both young and middle-aged men and women between 18 and 49 years old, compared to those who had optimal blood pressure (5). The effect was greatest in women, with a 55 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease and 112 percent increased risk of heart disease death.
High blood pressure complications were not affected by onset age. Though this study was observational, it was very large and had a 31-year duration.
When is the best time to measureblood pressure?
Measuring blood pressure in the clinic can be useful. However, in a meta-analysis of nine studies, results showed that high blood pressure measured at nighttime was potentially a better predictor of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes, compared to daytime and clinic readings (5).
For every 10 mmHg rise in nighttime systolic blood pressure, there was a corresponding 25 percent increase in cardiovascular events.
Does this mean that nighttime readings are superior in predicting risk? Not necessarily, but the results are interesting. The nighttime readings were made using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM).
Masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) is a factor that may increase the risk of cardiovascular events in the nighttime. MUCH occurs in those who are well-controlled during clinic readings for blood pressure; however, their nocturnal blood pressure is uncontrolled. In the Spanish Society of Hypertension ABPM Registry, MUCH was most seen during nocturnal hours (6).
The authors suggest that ABPM may be a better way to monitor those with higher risk factors for MUCH, such as those whose pressure is borderline in the clinic and those who are smokers, obese or have diabetes.
A previous study of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension suggested that taking at least one antihypertensive medication at night may be more effective than taking them all in the morning (7). Those who took one or more blood pressure medications at night saw a two-thirds reduction in cardiovascular event risk. This could help explain those results.
Do berries help control blood pressure?
Diet plays an important role in controlling high blood pressure. Of course, lowering sodium is important, but what about adding berries?
In a study, 22 grams of blueberry powder consumed daily, equivalent to one cup of fresh blueberries, reduced systolic blood pressure by a respectable 7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 5 mmHg over 2 months (8).
This modest amount of fruit had a significant impact in a small, preliminary, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Blueberries increase nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax and reduces blood pressure. While the study used powder, it’s possible that an equivalent amount of real fruit could lead to an even greater reduction.
In conclusion, high blood pressure and resulting cardiovascular complications can be scary, but lifestyle modifications, such as making dietary changes and taking antihypertensive medications at night, can have a big impact in reducing your risks.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.
“I’m bored!” exclaimed my cousin, when we were about 10 and sitting in the backyard of my grandfather’s former dairy farm in the Catskills one summer afternoon.
I thought about that for a few seconds. “What does bored mean?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.
“It means I have nothing to do,” she railed.
“Oh. I’ve never been bored,” I replied unhelpfully.
“What do you do when you have nothing to do?” she demanded.
Again it took a few seconds. “I think,” I offered lamely.
My aunt, her mother, who was sitting nearby, burst out laughing.
Looking disgusted, my cousin got up and walked away.
I thought of that exchange, so many years ago, when I saw the headline in last Tuesday’s New York Times: “Let Children Get Bored. It’s Good for Them.” The article went on to advise that “in moderate doses, boredom can offer a valuable learning opportunity, spurring creativity and problem solving and motivating children to seek out activities that feel meaningful to them.”
How, exactly, did I spend my summertime hours when a visit from my cousin was a rarity and there was nothing structured amid the grassy cow pastures?
By the beginning of July, during my elementary school years, I had my books already signed out from the neighborhood library. There was a rule limiting the number that could be withdrawn at one time, but the librarians knew me, knew that I would be taking them away for the summer, that I would take good care of them and return them in September, so they let me exceed the number. Often they would make recommendations that added to my pile. So reading made up a large part of my waking hours.
I also remember picking blueberries from the bushes that grew in the pasture behind the house. They were wild berries. I don’t think anyone planted them there. They were sweet and delicious, and when I had my fill, I would bring back a small amount for my mother and sister, who were with me during the week. My dad would come up by Shoreline Bus on the weekends, and then I would roam with him across many pastures, marked by low stone walls, collecting blueberries in greater quantities.
I would invent games, like selecting a large rock as a target, then throwing small rocks at it from increasing distances, keeping score from one day to the next. If it rained, I would empty the glass jar in which my mother kept loose coins, place a pot against the far wall of the kitchen, then try to pitch the coins into the pot. To this day, I have pretty good aim when I toss something.
As an offshoot from reading, I guess, I would write sometimes. One of my favorite stories was about the antics of the Bobbsey Twins, by Laura Lee Hope, and I would try to dream up adventures for them when I had finished their books. I also loved horses, read the whole series about the Black Stallion by Walter Farley, then tried to extend it with my own amateurish episodes.
Sitting in the shade of a tree, I know I did a lot of daydreaming. I don’t remember any of those thoughts, but I do recall that I loved the smell of the nearby evergreens when the breeze blew and the warmth of the sun on my skin as it dipped down below the level of the tree limbs. In the evening, we could hear the frogs croaking and see fireflies momentarily lighting up the night sky. There were stars, millions of stars that were not visible in the city. And there was The Lone Ranger on the radio at 7:30.
My sister was two years younger, and I would make up scenarios in which I would be Miss Brown, and she would be my secretary. I would send her on all kinds of made-up errands, like mailing a letter at a pretend postal box a block away, and she would gladly run to oblige.
There was an innocence and a peacefulness in those loosey-goosey days that I think today’s youth, with their cell phones and video games, never know.
Blueberries should be a delicious part of people’s daily diets because this flavorful fruit packs a nutritious punch. Blueberries are a great source of antioxidants, which can help the body fend off various illnesses.
Various pastries showcase blueberries, including the French galette. A galette is not a pie, but more of a freeform crusty cake. However, it is similar to pie, making it a welcome alternative to that popular pastry. This recipe for “Blueberry Galette,” courtesy of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, is a delicious treat that’s perfect for entertaining.
Blueberry Galette
YIELD: Makes two 12-inch galettes
INGREDIENTS:
Crust
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
4 ounces lard or shortening, cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces and frozen
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1⁄2-inch pieces and refrigerated
1⁄2 cup ice water
1 teaspoon vodka
Filling
8 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
3⁄4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, separated
31⁄2 tablespoons cornstarch
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1 lemon, zested
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
DIRECTIONS:
To make the crust: Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor. Add the butter and lard. Use the food processor to work the butter and lard into the flour by pulsing it until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. Whisk the water and vodka together and add it to the flour/butter mixture a few tablespoons at a time. It will start to look shaggy, but not dry. It should hold together when you squeeze it in your hand.
Gently press the dough into a ball using a pastry scraper or your hands. Divide the dough into two pieces and create round disks. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour, or overnight.
To make the filling: In a small bowl, combine 3⁄4 cup sugar, cornstarch, salt, and lemon zest. Massage the zest into the sugar. In a large bowl, toss together the blueberries and lemon juice. Add the sugar/lemon zest mixture and gently stir to coat the blueberries. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a floured surface, roll out the chilled pie dough into a 1⁄8-inch-thick-circle. Dust off any extra flour and lay crust onto the prepared pan.
Mound the blueberry filling in the middle of crust. Fold and crimp the dough up so that it covers at least 2 inches of the filling. Freeze the shaped galette for at least 15 minutes to chill the dough.
Preheat the oven to 425 F and set rack in middle of the oven. Just before baking, beat the egg and water together and brush the edges with egg wash. Sprinkle crust with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350 F and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
A poor diet can increase your risk for high blood pressure. METRO photo
Medication timing has a significant effect on cardiovascular risk
By David Dunaief, M.D.
Dr. David Dunaief
We are at the point in the year when many of us are taking stock of how we’ve fared over our last trip around the sun.
If you are one of the 47 percent of U.S. adults over the age of 18 with hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, you don’t want to be one of the 92 million whose hypertension is uncontrolled (1). When it’s not controlled, you increase your probability of complications, such as cardiovascular events and mortality.
What contributes to our risk of hypertension complications?
Being significantly overweight or obese, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, family history, age, increased sodium, depression, low vitamin D, diabetes and too much alcohol are some of the factors that increase our risk (2). The good news is that you can take active steps to improve your risk profile (3).
Of course, antihypertensive (blood pressure) medications treat this disorder. In addition, some nonpharmacological approaches have benefits.
Which risk factors have the greatest impact on developing hypertension?
A poor diet can increase your risk for high blood pressure. METRO photo
In an observational study involving 2,763 participants, results showed that those with poor diets had 2.19 times increased risk of developing high blood pressure. This was the greatest contributor to developing this disorder (4). Another risk factor with a significant impact was being at least modestly overweight (BMI >27.5 kg/m²), which put participants at 1.87 times increased risk. This, surprisingly, trumped cigarette smoking, which increased risk by 1.83 times.
What effect does your gender, age or race have?
While the data show that more men than women have hypertension, 50 percent vs. 44 percent, and the prevalence of high blood pressure varies by race, the consequences of hypertension are felt across the spectrum of age, gender and race (5).
One of the most feared complications of hypertension is cardiovascular disease. In a study, isolated systolic (top number) hypertension was shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in both young and middle-aged men and women between 18 and 49 years old, compared to those who had optimal blood pressure (6). The effect was greatest in women, with a 55 percent increased risk in cardiovascular disease and 112 percent increased risk in heart disease death.
High blood pressure has complications associated with it, regardless of onset age. Though this study was observational, it was very large and had a 31-year duration.
Are nighttime blood pressure readings better risk predictors?
Measuring blood pressure in the clinic can be useful. However, in a meta-analysis (involving nine studies from Europe, South America and Asia), results showed that high blood pressure measured at nighttime was potentially a better predictor of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes, compared to daytime and clinic readings (6).
For every 10 mmHg rise in nighttime systolic blood pressure, there was a corresponding 25 percent increase in cardiovascular events. This was a large meta-analysis that utilized studies that were at least one year in duration.
Does this mean that nighttime readings are superior in predicting risk? Not necessarily, but the results are interesting. The nighttime readings were made using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM).
There is something referred to as masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) that may increase the risk of cardiovascular events in the nighttime. MUCH occurs in those who are well-controlled during clinic readings for blood pressure; however, their nocturnal blood pressure is uncontrolled. In the Spanish Society of Hypertension ABPM Registry, MUCH was most commonly seen during nocturnal hours (7). Thus, the authors suggest that ABPM may be a better way to monitor those who have higher risk factors for MUCH, such as those whose pressure is borderline in the clinic and those who are smokers, obese or have diabetes.
A previous study suggested that taking at least one antihypertensive medication at night may be more effective than taking them all in the morning (8). Those who took one or more blood pressure medications at night saw a two-thirds reduction in cardiovascular event risk. Now we can potentially see why. These were patients who had chronic kidney disease (CKD). Generally, 85 to 95 percent of those with CKD have hypertension.
Do blueberries help control blood pressure?
Diet plays a role in controlling high blood pressure. In a study, 22 grams of blueberry powder consumed daily, equivalent to one cup of fresh blueberries, reduced systolic blood pressure by a respectable 7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 5 mmHg over 2 months (9).
This is a modest amount of fruit with a significant impact, demonstrating exciting results in a small, preliminary, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Blueberries increase nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax, reducing blood pressure. While the study used powder, it’s possible that an equivalent amount of real fruit would lead to greater reduction.
In conclusion, high blood pressure and its cardiovascular complications can be scary, but lifestyle modifications, such as taking antihypertensive medications at night and making dietary changes, can have a big impact in altering these serious risks.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com or consult your personal physician.
Yes, there are miserable things happening that we are accosted with in the daily news briefs: congressional hearings, COVID numbers, climate change, warfare, inflation, gasoline price spikes, and so forth. But there is something magical about summer. Maybe it’s a carryover from our school days, when classes and homework ended and we could think about a trip to the beach or lounging in bed in the mornings, that make us feel the specialness of the season.
Come with me, then, as we do some time travel to my elementary school years, and I tell you what summers were like for me.
From first to fifth grades, my mother would visit my teachers in mid-May and get their lesson plans for the rest of the semester and the beginning of the next. She would then take me out of school, and I would not return until mid-September. We would travel to some rustic shack in the Catskill Mountains, a different one each year, where we would spend sixteen weeks in “the fresh air.”
My parents, you see, did not appreciate urban living in the summer, when I recall it used to get hotter than now. Air conditioning only existed in movie theaters, ice cream could only be purchased in bulk from drug stores with freezers, and to get a breeze, one would have to drive really fast along Manhattan’s East Side Highway with all the windows open—that is if one were lucky enough to get a ride in a car.
My dad grew up in the mountains, my mom in Corona, Queens, which she said was so countrified that there were cows on the road when she walked to public school. They keenly felt the inevitable pollution in the summer air and planned the escape for us children and my mom.
It was lonely for me, fresh air not withstanding I would read a lot. Generally, there would be a farm or two within walking distance, and only occasionally was there a child to play with, only my sister, who was two years younger and had Down Syndrome. But my dad and sometimes my much older brother would come up and stay with us on the weekends, and then the pace of life would pick up.
My dad and I would traipse across meadows and climb hills, for the exercise and just for the fun. Sometimes we would see cows grazing, and they would look at us lazily as we went by. My dad always reminded me to stay alert for the presence of a bull and also to watch out for any snakes that might be sunning themselves at the base of the low stone walls that separated the meadows. Should we see a bull in the distance, we should look to climb a nearby tree.
Often we would find wild blueberry bushes, and we carried containers to bring some back to the rest of the family. We picked the berries in the classical way: one for the pot, two for the mouth, one for the pot, two for the mouth. As we moved around each bush, I enjoyed the warm sun on my back and the smell of wheat and grass carried by the soft breezes that caressed us on their way past.
When it was time to return, I would wait for his suggestion that I lead the way, and it always came. My dad hoped I would develop a good sense of direction, especially when the terrain looked the same all around us. He would show me nature’s clues, like moss growing on the north side of tree trunks, as a help to finding my way.
One time I remember getting up early enough to watch the sun rise from the top of the nearby hill. I had never seen the sun rise before then, but the real treat was just being with my dad.
Blueberries can help lower blood pressure. Pixabay photo
Being modestly overweight increases risk more than smoking
By David Dunaief, M.D.
Dr. David Dunaief
Roughly 47 percent of U.S. adults over the age of 18 have hypertension, or high blood pressure. That’s almost one in two adults, or 116 million people. Of these, roughly 92 million do not have their hypertension controlled (1). These are some scary numbers, considering the probability of complications, such as cardiovascular events and mortality.
What increases our risk? Being significantly overweight or obese, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, family history, age, increased sodium, depression, low vitamin D, diabetes and too much alcohol (2).
Fortunately, hypertension is highly modifiable in terms of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality (3).
Of course, antihypertensive (blood pressure) medications treat this disorder. In addition, some nonpharmacological approaches have benefits. These include lifestyle modifications with diet, exercise and potentially supplements.
Weighing risk factors
In an observational study involving 2,763 participants, results showed that those with poor diets had 2.19 times increased risk of developing high blood pressure. This was the greatest contributor to developing this disorder (4). Another risk factor with a significant impact was being at least modestly overweight (BMI >27.5 kg/m²), which put participants at 1.87 times increased risk. This, surprisingly, trumped cigarette smoking, which increased risk by 1.83 times.
The moral is that a freewheeling lifestyle can have a detrimental impact on blood pressure and cause at least stage 1 hypertension.
Implications of gender, age and race on complications
Stock photo
While the data show that more men than women have hypertension, 50 percent vs. 44 percent, and the prevalence of high blood pressure varies by race, the consequences of hypertension are felt across the spectrum of age, gender and race (5).
One of the most feared complications of hypertension is cardiovascular disease. In a study, isolated systolic (top number) hypertension was shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in both young and middle-aged men and women between 18 and 49 years old, compared to those who had optimal blood pressure (6). The effect was greatest in women, with a 55 percent increased risk in cardiovascular disease and 112 percent increased risk in heart disease death. High blood pressure has complications associated with it, regardless of onset age. Though this study was observational, it was very large and had a 31-year duration.
Measuring blood pressure in the clinic can be useful. However, in a meta-analysis (involving nine studies from Europe, South America and Asia), results showed that high blood pressure measured at nighttime was potentially a better predictor of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes, compared to daytime and clinic readings (6).
For every 10 mmHg rise in nighttime systolic blood pressure, there was a corresponding 25 percent increase in cardiovascular events. This was a large meta-analysis that utilized studies that were at least one year in duration.
Does this mean that nighttime readings are superior in predicting risk? Not necessarily, but the results are interesting. The nighttime readings were made using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM).
There is something referred to as masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) that may increase the risk of cardiovascular events in the nighttime. MUCH occurs in those who are well-controlled during clinic readings for blood pressure; however, their nocturnal blood pressure is uncontrolled. In the Spanish Society of Hypertension ABPM Registry, MUCH was most commonly seen during nocturnal hours (7). Thus, the authors suggest that ABPM may be a better way to monitor those who have higher risk factors for MUCH, such as those whose pressure is borderline in the clinic and those who are smokers, obese or have diabetes.
Previously, a study suggested that taking at least one antihypertensive medication at night may be more effective than taking them all in the morning (8). Those who took one or more blood pressure medications at night saw a two-thirds reduction in cardiovascular event risk. Now we can potentially see why. These were patients who had chronic kidney disease (CKD). Generally, 85 to 95 percent of those with CKD have hypertension.
Eat your berries
Diet plays a role in controlling high blood pressure. In a study, blueberry powder (22 grams) in a daily equivalent to one cup of fresh blueberries reduced systolic blood pressure by a respectable 7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 5 mmHg over 2 months (9).
This is a modest amount of fruit with a significant impact, demonstrating exciting results in a small, preliminary, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Blueberries increase nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax, reducing blood pressure. While the study used powder, it’s possible that an equivalent amount of real fruit would lead to greater reduction.
In conclusion, high blood pressure and its cardiovascular complications can be scary, but lifestyle modifications, such as taking antihypertensive medications at night and making dietary changes, can have a big impact in altering these serious risks.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com.
Blueberries! Blueberry pie, blueberry fool, blueberry buckle, blueberry crisp, blueberry crumble, blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes, blueberry tarts and cakes, smoothies, coolers, and just plain blueberries that leave stains on your teeth and fingers. What recipes shall I choose? I can’t decide! So I’m going to share with you some spin-offs on a few of them and hope you like them as much as the traditional ones.
Blueberry-Pecan Bread
YIELD: Makes one loaf
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 eggs well-beaten
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9 x 5 x 3” loaf pan with waxed paper. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; add berries and nuts and stir to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil; add to dry mixture and stir just enough to moisten; pour into prepared loaf pan and let sit about 20 minutes. Bake one hour or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.Serve with iced coffee or iced tea.
Blueberry Skillet Pancake
YIELD: Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup half and half
1 large egg at room temperature
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 pint blueberries
Confectioners sugar
DIRECTIONS:
Place oven rack in upper third of oven; preheat oven to 375 F. Place 10” cast iron skillet in oven. In large bowl combine flour, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, the baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl whisk together the half and half, egg and two tablespoons of the butter. Stir wet mixture into dry mixture until just moistened. With a potholder carefully remove skillet from oven; swirl remaining tablespoon of butter to coat bottom and sides of pan; pour batter in pan and smooth top; sprinkle evenly with blueberries and remaining teaspoon sugar. Bake 20 to 30 minutes until cooked through and golden on top; sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with blueberry syrup, fresh blueberries and whipped cream.
Blueberry Custard Tart
YIELD: Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
4 large eggs, well beaten
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 2/3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 unbaked 9” pie shell
1 cup blueberries
2 tablespoons orange juice
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 F. In a medium bowl combine eggs, sugar, salt, milk, nutmeg and vanilla; stir until smooth; pour mixture into pie shell and bake 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 F and bake 30 minutes more, until knife inserted about one inch from edge of pastry shell comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool; refrigerate if not serving immediately. In a medium bowl toss the blueberries, orange juice and confectioners’ sugar; spoon over cream filling just before serving.
