This year, the u-pick blueberries at a local farm were possibly the best I have ever picked.
How to pick the perfect blueberry? It's easy - go for the white bloom.
They are so good. I don't put anything on mine - no cream, no sugar, just the pure blueberries.
But I do like them in baked goods. Since I'm trying to get rid of some extra weight that has come back on during the last three years, I decided to make something a little low calorie.
For my blueberry recipe this year, my back was bothering me so I decided on a quick and easy recipe.
No almond milk blueberry muffins from scratch today.
No, I made a dump cake. The cake mixworked out to about 150 calories for 1/10 of a cake. The blueberries are not counted on the old Weight Watchers system I use (Points Plus).
I've had dump cakes before but (believe it or not) have never made one. It was so easy!
I didn't have the called for diet soda, but I did have diet Cheerwine from a previous trip down South. Cheerwine is not wine; it is a cherry soda made in North Carolina that has become popular outside its home area. And, although the berries are in a commercial container, my spouse and I picked every one of them (and many more).
Layer the blueberries. Sprinkle the cake mix over.
Sad in a way, but I rarely bake from scratch at this point in my life. I hope to go back to scratch baking one day.
Add the can of soda (we decided against the nuts). I baked at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes, using a 9 x 13 pan instead of the 9 x 12 the recipe called for. I also knew, from past experience, that the remaining cake mix that was not hit by the soda just added to the enjoyment. And, because neither of us are big whipped topping fans, this is exactly how it was served.
My spouse loved it! I wonder if I should say goodbye to scratch baking and stick to quick and easy. But perhaps, it was the high quality of the blueberries. It came out to 170 calories for 1/10 of the 9 x 13 pan, which isn't bad at all for someone watching their calories.
Day 24 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge #BlogBoost
Blueberries....yum. Cake looks good too.
ReplyDeleteI love blueberries, too- but mine share a plate with pineapple, strawberries, apples, dates, and cranberries.
ReplyDeleteAlana<
ReplyDeleteI never used to like blueberries so much as I do now. My mother, sister and the girls (nieces and great nieces) can eat them alone. I think I've been looking for ways to celebrate my mother and sister, so I have latched onto blueberries. The first batch I bought at a roadside stand were a bit sour. But this recent batch (purchased on Sunday) are sweet. I'm going to put them on my granola and bake a batch of blueberry muffins. Thanks for this nice post!
Amy
Blueberries are my favorite. We have some bushes at home and the season is just about over for us. Because I eat blueberries by the pound I have to U-pick to supplement my home berries. This year we picked a total of200 pounds. I hope that lasts me the winter. I am too stingy with my berries to bake much but under requests I will make blueberry pancakes or blueberry muffins. I have never heard of a dump cake never mind make one!
ReplyDeleteI do love blueberries - probably my favorite berry. I used to grow them but all my bushes have passed on now. I need to get new ones. My favorite recipe is probably blueberry/yogurt muffins which I make often for our breakfast.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with not baking from scratch. Especially in the heat of summer.
ReplyDeleteBlueberries are our favorite, we eat them alone, in fruit salad and bake with them as long as we can get them plump and fresh. I do a lot of scratch baking, but I do a lot of "doctoring up" mixes too, nothing wrong with it.
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