Dried Blueberries

Dried fruits and berries are an awesome ingredient to have at hand, and you don’t necessarily need a dehydrator to make your own. A good old oven is all you need to make your own delicious dried blueberries!

Blueberries are such amazing little berries. They are an antioxidant-rich food, as well as being a great source of vitamin C, fibre and manganese. Here are some of the benefits you’ll get from eating blueberries:

· Promote a healthy heart

· Support the immune system

· Strengthen blood vessels

· Help keep your bones strong

They are very tasty, too. I like adding dried blueberries to chocolate treats, baked goods or granola.

The best news of all is that these dried blueberries contain none of those nasty added refined sugars. The natural sugars from the berries are all you will get! Plus, the only things you’ll need are blueberries, your trusty old oven and a little time. Pretty simple, hey? Dried blueberries are great to make on a rainy day when you know you will be home most of the day, as your oven will be on between 10 and 12 hours.

Here is the recipe:

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 – 12 hours

Ingredients:

Blueberries, washed

Directions:

1. Turn oven on 170 degrees and place parchment paper on baking sheet.

2. Spread blueberries out on baking sheet.

3. Bake for 10 – 12 hours, depending on the size of your blueberries. (They are ready when they are firm to the touch.)

Sources:

Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Dietary Wellness. New York: Avery, 2003. Print.