This is the time of year for blueberries! They are sweet without being too sugary, and are rich in antioxidants, which adds to their health value. Why do I mention them with Gothic Horror? My first novel, The Farmhouse on Cemetery Hill Rd. takes place at a time when families had to raise most of what they needed to eat; and it takes place in New England, so blueberries are an important and abundant crop. While you may freeze the berries if you have too many, back when The Farmhouse took place, freezing was not an option. Folks made jams or jellies to preserve them but that is a lot of work in our modern lifestyles. However, I have come up with a low sugar blueberry sauce which will last for many days if refrigerated, and takes just a few minutes of preparation. A bowl of ice cream, or a slice of Angel Food cake drizzled with blueberry sauce, is delicious as well as is starting the day off with this on you pancakes! Let me know if you like it.
2 cups of blueberries (may have been frozen)
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup or a bit more of Splenda
2 TBS lemon juice (fresh is best)
Combine above in a small saucepan. Stir frequently and bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer.
Dissolve 1.5 TBS cornstarch with 2 TBS. water then mix into simmering blueberries. Continue to cook until the sauce coats the back of your spoon. Sauce thickens as it cools but will always pour onto treats nicely.
Then you may enjoy an old fashioned flavor while you read about the past!
Cindy is the best example I know of of someone who used time to best advantage by writing not one but three! Novels in a time of lock downs and boredom! By applying those traits of “getting on with it” during difficult times, planning and completion of tasks, while having a good time as well, she is a role model! Besides all that her writing captures elements of history, family, food, and the feeling of being too scared to turn the page, wanting to read on!
Edie Posselt
PS if you have to retrieve those frozen berries from your cellar freezer, you might want to hold off reading parts of the trilogy....