Summertime Favorites ~ Lavender & Blueberries

We absolutely love blueberries around here, blueberry jam, blueberry scones, blueberry vinaigrette dressing, blueberry tarts, blueberry inspired cocktails, blueberries in our morning oats and blueberries to snack on!  Did I mention they are one of our favorite fruits? We also love blending the summertime goodness of freshly picked blueberries with culinary lavender.    Blueberry season + lavender season = the best time of the year! “Lavender is by far the most common flower used to enhance fresh blueberry recipes,” says ask The Food Geek. 

Nutritionally speaking, one cup of blueberries provide fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and potassium, and are low in sodium and have virtually no fat (U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council). According to Livestrong, one serving of culinary lavender provides you with 287 IU of vitamin A supporting eye health, 215 mg of calcium per 100g portion and one serving has 2 mg of iron.  This dynamic duo will not only please your taste buds, but your body will thank you too.

Thinking of adding blueberry plants to your garden?  Why not add a few lavender companion plants?  Companion planting maximizes your berry yield through pollinators, while adding visual appeal to your outdoor space (FarmtoJar)~ talk about maximizing the look and purpose of your outdoor oasis!  Blueberry and lavender can be container plants, so if you’re in an urban area, enhance the look of your balcony or deck with these beauties.  Wherever you  plant, in a garden or container, pollinators will love your space, and you will enjoy pairing lavender and blueberries in the kitchen!

Lavender Blueberry Preserves

Slather a bit of our favorite blueberry lavender preserve on an English muffin as a morning treat.  We love the recipe from SimpleBites.  Not only does Aimee walk you through the basics of making preserves, but she lists 11 uses for blueberry lavender preserves, options, options, options, oh my!

Lavender Blueberry Simple Syrup

Keeping lavender simple syrup on hand for iced beverages is a staple at our house, during blueberry season we love this homemade blueberry simple syrup recipe from freshflavorful.  You can make it with fresh or frozen blueberries and combined with lavender, fresh or dried, the lavender flavor compliments the juicy blueberries.  Drizzle over ice cream, pancakes or waffles.  Top off an iced coffee, tea or lemonade or add to cocktails. Let your imagination be your guide!

• ½ cup lavender flowers and buds only or substitute ¼ cup dried lavender
• ½ cup blueberries fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

Combine sugar, blueberries, and water in a small saucepan. Simmer just until sugar dissolves and blueberries burst and bubble. Remove from heat, sprinkle in lavender and stir. Steep lavender in blueberry syrup for 25-30 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer to remove lavender and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Blueberry Lavender Pie

An all time summertime favorite at our 4th of July celebration is blueberry pie. This recipe comes from blueberry.org and is full of blueberries, juicy and perfectly flavored with lavender ~ a wonderful way to kick off your summer holiday.  

• 2 9-inch frozen pie crust rounds, thawed
• 6 cups fresh blueberries
• 1⁄2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, separated
• 3-4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 teaspoons dried culinary lavender​, separated
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon cold salted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions:

1. Fit 1 pie crust round into a 9-inch pie plate. Lightly prick the bottom of the dough with a fork.
2. In a large bowl, toss together the blueberries, 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch (see tip below), 2 teaspoons lavender, lemon juice, and vanilla. Pour into the crust and arrange the butter pieces evenly over the blueberries.
3. Grab the second pie crust round and roll it out into a 12-inch circle. Place the crust over the berries. Alternatively, you can create a lattice design if desired. Using a fork, crimp the edges of the crust together to seal the pie up.
4. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of dried lavender. Pinch the lavender and sugar together with your fingers to break the buds up into the sugar.
5. Brush the top crust with the beaten egg and sprinkle with lavender sugar. Using a sharp knife, slice four holes in the top of the crust for air pockets. Cover and chill pie until crust is firm, about 1 hour in the fridge or 30 minutes in the freezer.
6. Preheat the oven to 400°. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven to 350° and bake another 30 minutes until the pie is golden and the sauce is bubbling.

Blueberry and Lavender Infused Water

Looking for a new infused water recipe?  I've been loving this one from 7min.com. This recipe has two main ingredients, lavender and blueberries and is easy to prep and store in refrigerator.

• ½ pint blueberries
• A small handful of edible lavender flowers (to taste)
• 64 oz water

Directions:

1. Place the blueberries and edible lavender flowers into a pitcher of water.
2. Chill for at least 1 hour.
3. Strain when serving. Add ice cubes and pour into glasses. Enjoy!

Whether you are creating a smoothie, tarts, cocktails, or one of these recipes, lavender and blueberries make the perfect summertime combo.  Refreshing, delicious, and packed with antioxidants, this duo will make a splash at your next summertime celebration!