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Friday, September 6, 2013

Blueberry and Peach Crumble

(a favorite, reposted from August 2011)
Everyone loves to hate New Jersey.  The state proudly boasts ownership of The Jersey Shore (which you know is your guilty pleasure), Newark Airport and plenty of nuclear power plants and oil refineries.  But there are some things you don't know about New Jersey.  I bet you didn't know that New Jersey is the blueberry capital of the world?!  Well, it is.  I am from South Jersey and I often feel the need to defend the states integrity.  We have farms stocked full of your summer favorites- peaches, tomatoes, zucchini and corn. We have produce stands and apple picking and you got it- lots of blueberries!

Blueberries define summer and before they slip away into the frost, I wanted to feature them with their perfect summer mates, peaches.  This recipe is easy, oh so sweet and a perfectly healthy summer dessert.  New Jersey, we thank you for your fresh summer fruit.

Blueberry and Peach Crisp

1 pint of fresh blueberries, cleaned
5 (or more) sweet summer peaches, cleaned and sliced
Lemon Juice, from 1 fresh lemon
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 cup light brown sugar, loosely packed
1 1/2 cups oatmeal

Combine the blueberries and peaches and toss in fresh juice from one lemon.  Pour into a glass baking dish and let sit while you prepare the topping.  In a pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.  Add the brown sugar and stir until it is dissolved, ensuring there are no clumps.  Add the cinnamon and stir.  Add the oatmeal about 1/2 cup at a time, completely coating in the oil mixture.  Once the oatmeal has completely absorbed the oil, pour over the peaches and blueberries.  Bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.  Once the blueberry juice has created a sauce and the peaches are soft, but not mushy, it's done. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

What makes this bite better?
Blueberries are a power food!  They are stuffed full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and have been shown to reduce abdominal fat and risk of disease.  Plus, they are delicious!