3 Fools

Dessert Fools have been around so long that it is difficult to pin down the origin date. Here is a recipe from 1658, straight from The Compleat Cook. 

"Take your Gooseberries, and put them in a Silver or Earthen Pot, and set it in a Skillet of boyling Water, and when they are coddled enough strain them, then make them hot again, when they are scalding hot, beat them very well with a good piece of fresh butter, Rose-water and Sugar, and put in the yolke of two or three Eggs; you may put Rose-water into them, and so stir it altogether, and serve it to the Table when it is cold."

Over time, using any sweetened custard for this superb "pudding" has been omitted for the simpler whipped cream. In fact, most of today's Fool recipes are simply mashed berries that have been mixed with whipped cream. To me, that may make for a quick fix in the summer, but to truly enjoy this classic takes just a tad extra effort, especially during the Holidays when people put their best, and most creative, foot forward to please themselves and others around them.
I am giving you 3 distinctly different Fool recipes. Notice I refrain from using entirely whipped cream in these recipes. I opt, instead, to give it a little "kick in the pants". If desired, substitute more whipped cream to any of these recipes. 

Tart Raspberry Fool

You are going to be very pleasantly surprised at the sweet tartness this Holiday dessert provides. All the flavors balance out perfectly and I have a funny feeling you will be doubling, tripling or even quadrupling this recipe to feed the masses this year as they gather around your table.


1(12-ounce)bag frozen raspberries(2 1/2 cups)
1 cup frozen, white grapefruit juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
1(1-ounce)envelope unflavored gelatin
1(8-ounce)container plain yogurt, whisked and divided
3 cups whipped topping, divided


Combine raspberries, grapefruit juice concentrate and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat, bringing to a boil. Once boiling, and with a potato masher or sturdy fork, mash raspberries just a couple times, leaving them chunky. Sprinkle gelatin over the top and continue cooking without stirring for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and transfer to bowl to chill in refrigerator, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
When ready, whisk half the yogurt with half the whipped topping until well combined in a large bowl. Fold in cooled(it will still be warm)raspberry mixture, folding until desired streaks are visible or fold in entirely.

Divide among 4 serving dishes, loosely cover with film wrap and chill at least 3 hours. When ready to serve, blend the remainder of yogurt with remainder of whipped topping and ladle over individual servings of Fool.

Sweet and Tangy Blueberry Fool

Mousse-like but much softer. An original recipe for this New England dessert goes all the way back to 15th century England, when it was made with crushed berries mixed with eggs and a sweetener, creating a berry-laden custard. It was made in this way even well into 19th century New England before being altered using whipped cream instead of custard. I think you will find this version less sweet and eggy, but "super delicious" as my kids say! Refer to note at the end for 2 other Fool recipes, one of which is the classic preparation.



1(12-ounce)bag frozen blueberries(2 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch dried ginger or allspice
1(1-ounce)envelope unflavored gelatin
1/2(8-ounce)container creme fraiche
1 1/2 cups whipped topping
Crushed gingersnaps or your favorite crisp Holiday cookies


Make blueberry filling by combining frozen blueberries, corn syrup, lemon juice and spices in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil until blueberries are thawed. Once boiling, and with a potato masher or sturdy fork, mash the blueberries just a couple times, leaving them very chunky. Sprinkle gelatin over the top and continue cooking without stirring for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and transfer to bowl to chill in refrigerator, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

When ready, whisk creme fraiche and whipped topping until well combined in a large bowl. Fold in cooled(it will still be warm)blueberry mixture, folding until desired streaks are visible or fold in entirely.

Divide among 4 serving dishes, loosely cover with film wrap and chill at least 3 hours before serving with crushed cookies over the top.

NOTE: Follow this link for a great Raspberry Fool and to prepare this old time dessert the way it was intended, follow this link, English Cranberry Fool with Baked Meringue.

Ye Olde Cranberry Fool

Here is a Fool recipe that is truly classic....well, for the most part. I use the classic preparation for the overall texture, but Yanked it using canned cranberry sauce. For those of you who wish to prepare it using fresh cranberries, simply see asterisk. Regardless of how you make it, it is delightfully different and perfect for your table this season.

1(14-ounce)can whole-berry cranberry sauce *
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon allspice or cinnamon
1 cup sugar, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
Nonstick cooking spray

Empty cranberry sauce into a bowl and stir until it is well broken up. Strain any liquid from it and discard, set aside cranberry sauce. Place milk, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and allspice in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to scalding while almost continuously stirring with a rubber spatula to prevent scorching. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until it has thickened to the consistency of thin gravy.

Remove from heat and stir in bowl of cranberry sauce and vanilla until well incorporated. Evenly divide among 3-4 serving dishes, loosely cover with film wrap and refrigerate until completely chilled and set, about 3 hours. You can also simply pour into a large bowl to cool, scooping out portions when ready to serve.

Meanwhile, make meringue toppings. Beat egg whites using an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Slowly add remaining sugar while beating to stiff peaks.

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray. Pipe chocolate kiss-like mounds(or rosettes) to desired sizes onto parchment paper, leaving an inch between mounds. (This amount of meringue will make about 14-15 good-sized meringues, so use only half the whites if desired.

Place in oven for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, leaving the meringues in oven for at least one hour to dry out.

When ready to serve, add as many meringues on top of each serving as desired.

* Want to make your own chunky cranberry sauce? You will need to give yourself some time. Simply place 1(12-ounce)bag fresh cranberries in a medium saucepan with 1 cup frozen orange juice concentrate(thawed)and 1/3 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling for about 8 minutes, or until most, if not all, the cranberries have popped open. Remove from heat, transfer to a large bowl, cool to room temperature and cover with film wrap. Refrigerate until completely chilled. It will thicken substantially when cooling. Use in place of the canned cranberry sauce above. 

Jammin'

My last post was all about how a local company has nailed the flavor of Maine blueberries into products that outshines other businesses that use blueberries, Maine Man Flavah's. I have tasted dozens of other products, many from as far away as Oregon, claiming to use Maine blueberries in syrups, jellies, jams, preserves, muffin mixes and vinaigrettes. I will dare say that most used blueberry essence, extract or flavoring. How can you tell? Because you can smell sweet blueberry the second you open it....and I mean sweet, almost like perfume. That is the main indication of a fake blueberry addition.

And yes, I mean fake. Even though the extract or essence may come from blueberries in some form, when you scientifically alter pure wild blueberries, it is FAKE!

Not so with both Maine Man Flavah and Bar Harbor Jam Company. If I remember correctly, these guys have been around since the mid-80's and are truly local, buying and preparing right here at home.

Now they don't need me to give them a plug, one look at their product and it won't take long for you to place an order. One taste of their product and it won't take long for you to reorder. One look at there distribution list, and it won't take long for you to share with friends and family not in this great state.

From Maine to California, stopping at North Dakota, Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Montana, Tennessee, New Hampshire and Vermont for our friends who want to see what true Yankee blueberry ingenuity is all about.

I really am trying NOT to sound like an advertisement or paid spokesman, because I am not! When you are a New Englander, when you taste a product using Maine blueberries(for example), you stick with it and you tell everyone about it. This is exactly what I am doing.

For example, I recently tried Bar Harbor Jam Company's Wild Blueberry Syrup. Here is an image and even though it looks blue, the picture does it no justice. The syrup is not only bluer then it appears in the image, it is PERFECT! Outstanding doesn't begin to describe it.

I also have a bottle of their WILD Blueberry Vinaigrette 2 days ago. GONE!!!

Keep an eye out for the recipes I used it in. Just outstanding, AGAIN!

Take a peak at their website here and tell me it isn't some kinda temptin'.(Hey, it's the way I talk, get over it, hahaha.)

For anyone who seeks organic products, take a look. Chocolate covered blueberries AND cranberries, take a look. Frozen and dried blueberries, take a look. Breads and muffins, using wild Maine blueberries, take a look. Want a topping for your summer ice cream sundae's, take a look. And finally, for the best Blueberry Soda, take a look. Betcha never heard of Old Soaker Blueberry Soda before. Betcha never will drink another brand after this either! I could go on and on, but just take a look for yourself at the tremendous variety at Bar Harbor Jam Co..



Again, Maine continues to amaze me with its Yankee ingenuity, hard work, perseverance and above all, sticking with the world's best crop with no other artificial blueberry additives needed. You guys really are Jammin'.

　

Time To Exhale!

It never fails, every winter, I add a few pounds. It doesn't matter if I think I am eating less, healthier of watching every that goes into my mouth. The bottom line, I am not nearly as active in the cold months as I am when it warms up.
Sooooo, that means I either avoid the clothes I wear in the summer or I take a deep breath and hold it until the person I know in the supermarket, school or corner store walks out of range. Then I can exhale.
And it is at this point every year, I truly start eating more fruits and vegetables and try to go to sleep at night as quickly as possible before I get that never-ending sweet tooth, which happens every single night. Then I wake up in the morning and feel grotesquely disgusted with myself all day long.
Here are a couple desserts that not only satiate that sweet tooth, but offers far less in the way of fat and calories than that wrapped up dish of leftover chocolate pudding or those tempting chocolate doughnuts you have been nibbling on one at a time.



Blueberry Lemon 'Custard' Pudding

     Just enough for two people, yet if I were you, I would double it because one serving just ain't gonna cut it!

3/4 cup frozen blueberries, thawed
2 eggs
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Meringue:
1 egg white
1 tablespoon sugar




Place blueberries, with all accumulating juice from thawing(which should be about 3 tablespoons), egg, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and zest in a blender or food processor. Puree until as smooth as possible. Strain through a wire sieve into a medium saucepan. Place pan over medium heat and bring to scalding while whisking frequently. You will notice it thickening quite a bit.
Remove and pour into 2 oven safe, individual serving dishes. Cover and refrigerate until completely cooled.
When ready, preheat broiler, making sure the rack is on its lowest shelf.
Beat the egg white until soft peaks form with an electric mixer. Add sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Either dollop, spoon or pipe equal amounts of meringue on top of each pudding cup.
Place under broiler for just a couple minutes, until as browned as desired. Carefully remove and serve immediately.

　


Strawberry Kiwi 'Custard' Pudding

Tangy kiwi, sweet strawberries and a smile!

1/2 cup chopped fresh strawberries
2 kiwis, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup strawberry-kiwi juice *
2 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch

　
Puree all ingredients until as smooth as possible. Strain through a wire sieve into a medium saucepan. Place mixture over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. This will only take a few minute.
Immediately pour into individual serving dishes or 1 large bowl. Cover and refrigerate until set and completely chilled. Enjoy as is or with whipped topping of your choice.

　
* There are various brands of 100% strawberry-kiwi juice on the market today. If you can't find it, then use any type of pure strawberry juice blend.

Who Would Have Thought?

One of the last ingredients you would expect in a creamy and decadent dessert would be a staple on both borders of America.....corn.

Dried, ground corn to be precise. Our forebears used Southern grits and yellow cornmeal in both savory and sweet dishes, but in the past couple of centuries, this practice has all been forgotten. And that is a shame.

Naturally gluten free, cornmeal of any type offers a taste of the past as well as a surprisingly tasty, contemporary addition to puddings. If the word gritty first comes to mind when using cornmeal, put that right out of your mind because cornmeal is now almost flour-like in texture.

Here are two recipes that use both types of corn in a way that will have you scratching your head as to which will be your new favorite.

　

Southern Sweet Pudding with Apricot Sauce

 

Sweet and satisfying. That is the best way to describe this coconut-laced pudding with a hint of almond flavor.

2 1/4 cups almond milk
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup coconut
1/4 cup old fashioned grits
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Topping:
3 apricots
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch

In a large saucepan, add almond milk, orange juice and coconut. Mix and bring to a boil over medium heat. Slowly add grits, in a thin stream, while whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 15 minutes, or until very thick and creamy. Uncover, remove from heat and stir in evaporated milk, sugar and vanilla. Spoon into a large bowl, cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Meanwhile make topping by peeling, pitting and finely dicing apricots into a saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk 1 tablespoon of the orange juice with cornstarch and add to saucepan with remainder of orange juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until apricots are tender and sauce has thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer to bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

To serve, scoop some pudding into a bowl and top with Apricot Sauce. Serve cold.

Enough for 3

　

New England Sweet Polenta Pudding 

 

Have you ever thought of using yellow cornmeal as a dessert, let alone a pudding? If you want what will turn out to be one of your favorite puddings, try this recipe. It turns out super smooth and without the grit you may think is inevitable. A surprisingly simple, sweet and true Yanked recipe.

1 cup frozen blueberries
3 tablespoons honey
1 cup almond milk
1 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
6 tablespoons cornmeal
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

Add blueberries and honey to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, mashing blueberries as they thaw. Reduce heat to low once all berries are thawed and mashed, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until thickened. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour, or until cold.

Meanwhile, add remaining ingredients to a medium saucepan, whisk well and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and cook 5 minutes. You will have to constantly stir the first minute, then frequently for the next 4 minutes. When thickened and smooth, remove from heat and transfer to 4 serving dishes, Cover and refrigerate until completely cold, about an hour. To serve, simply remove both items from refrigerator and stir blueberry topping before equally dividing on top of each pudding.

Enough for 4 servings

NOTE: If desired, place the cooked polenta in one large bowl and refrigerate. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator, vigorously stir until smooth and transfer to individual serving dishes.

A Maine First.....Well, kind of...

 By now everyone has heard of the story of Hanson Gregory, a 19th century Maine ship captain who first "invented" the doughnut(donut), and this is partially true. It was also during the 19th century that the Dutch were making 'olykoeks', literally meaning 'oily cakes'. At the time, they were just gobs of sweetened dough fried in pork fat, hence the name. They lacked the familiar hole in the center, and that is where our Maine's own Mr. Gregory comes in.

                                              
     It was believed for many decades that he 'stabbed' his circular fried dough on the ships wheel so that he could eat and steer his ship at the same time. Another story goes that he purposely punctured this pastry so that the uncooked middle wouldn't have to be eaten around. But about 50 years after either of these incidents were supposed to have happened, Hanson Gregory gave an interview with the Boston Post. Captain Gregory admitted that he, indeed, was the first to give the donut a hole, but he had done so with the "top of a round tin pepper box" on purpose so that the middle would cook as well as the rest of the donut. He went on to exclaim that this was "the first doughnut hole ever seen by mortal eyes."




Capt. Gregory-Courtesy of the Camden Public Library(Maine)



A few years later, during the beginning of World War I, the Salvation Army began stationing "Doughnut Lassies"(a volunteer corps of women) in France to hand out doughnuts to American soldiers.

Thank you to the Salvation Army

     By 1938, the Salvation Army established National Doughnut Day in commemoration of these Doughnut Lassies and the work they did. The first Friday of June was selected for this "holiday" and was of tremendous benefit to the poor and homeless during the Great Depression.

     Not nearly as oily as the original, and not to fret about the middle of these donuts being uncooked, the following donut recipes will certainly bring out the days of yesteryear when our parents took the time to actually make a breakfast or treat for their family. I remember, well, the days of homemade baking and candy making, not going to the supermarket nearly as much then as now for a fix to our sweet tooth.

　

     Notice how I have varied the spelling of donut/doughnut throughout this post? Although I truly believe the correct spelling of this treat to be donut, there will be skeptics out there who will disagree, so I can please everyone all the time...........

　
Snowbound Gingerbread Donuts

Although I love my Dad's cake donuts as he made them and that I added to my cookbook, a couple of things popped out at me when I revised the recipe. I reduced the amounts for less 'abundant' families and substituted melted butter instead of oil. I think you will love these warmly spiced donuts and urge you to prepare them the night without the glaze or dusting. Slightly warm them before glazing or dusting.

　

1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
Large pinch ground cloves
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray, if using
Vegetable oil for frying

White Glaze, recipe below

Cinnamon Sugar, recipe below

　

In a large bowl, combine first 8 ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining 4 ingredients well. Pour the liquid to the dry and stir until well combined. Cover with film wrap and place in refrigerator while heating at least 2 inches of oil in a large, sturdy pot to 350-degrees F over medium heat.

Remove the donut batter from refrigerator and turn onto a well floured work surface. Knead for about a minute, or until the dough is no longer sticking to the work surface or your hands. Roll out to about an inch thick. With a donut cutter or a 3-4-inch rim of a cup or glass, cut out donuts, dipping the rim or cutter into flour frequently. If you are using anything but a donut cutter, take the screw cap off a soft drink bottle, dip in flour often and press in the middle of each donut. Simply pop out donut hole between each cutting.

Brush off excess flour and gently add donuts to the heated oil, a couple at a time, remembering to give yourself a few minutes between cooking for the oil to reheat back to temperature. Cook 2-3 minutes per side or until nicely browned all over. Transfer to a rack that has been placed over a baking pan lined with paper towels. Let cool for 10 minutes before dunking in glaze on both sides, further cooling on rack for the glaze to harden. If dusting with cinnamon sugar, spray each donut with butter-flavored cooking spray on both sides before tossing to coat.

To make White Glaze, simply whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar with 1/4 cup water.

To make Cinnamon Sugar, simply blend 1 cup sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

Makes about 8 donuts

　

　

Soft and Crunchy Blueberry Donuts

If you would like to use fresh or frozen blueberries in this recipe, simply substitute one cup of blueberries for the preserves listed below. Either way, these classic New England cake donuts are bursting with blueberry flavor like none you have ever had. A thin, crispy exterior hiding the softness of the donut 'flesh' results in a remarkable texture that only a homemade donut can give you.

1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 cup prepared blueberry preserves or jam
1 1/2 teaspoons blueberry flavoring or extract, optional *
Vegetable oil
Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray, if using

White Glaze, recipe under Gingerbread Donuts

Cinnamon Sugar, recipe under Gingerbread Donuts

　

In a large bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the next 3 ingredients well. Pour the liquid to the dry and stir until well combined. Fold in the preserves and flavoring. Cover with film wrap and place in refrigerator while heating 2 inches oil in a large, sturdy pot to 350-degrees F over medium heat.

Remove the donut batter from refrigerator and turn onto a well floured work surface. Knead for about 10-15 seconds, or until the dough is no longer sticking to the work surface or your hands. Roll out to about an inch thick. With a donut cutter or a 3-4-inch rim of a cup or glass, cut out donuts, dipping the rim or cutter into flour frequently. If you are using anything but a donut cutter, take the screw cap off a soft drink bottle, dip in flour often and press in the middle of each donut. Simply pop out donut hole between each cutting.

Brush off excess flour and gently add donuts to the heated oil. Cook 2-3 minutes per side or until nicely browned all over, remembering to allow oil to come back to temperature for a minute or two between each batch. Transfer to a rack that has been placed over a baking pan lined with paper towels. Let cool for 10 minutes before dunking in glaze on both sides, continuing to cool on rack for the glaze to harden. If dusting with cinnamon sugar, spray each donut with butter-flavored cooking spray on both sides before tossing to coat.


　

* Although you can make these donuts with the extra flavoring, I highly recommend using it. Without it, certainly the donuts have the flavor of blueberries, but just not enough for me. If you can't find it in your local supermarket, the two best flavorings I have found and used can be found online. Olive Nation has the best and most economical. You can buy a 4 ounce bottle for $10 or an 8-ounce bottle for $12. It takes 6 teaspoons per ounce. Brewer's Yeast also has a great blueberry flavoring, selling it online at $4 for 4-ounces.

　

　

Sweet Peach Sticks

These yummy treats are a great snack for dipping in hot cocoa, following with a cold glass of milk or setting in front of the kids while they are watching Saturday morning cartoons(or do children still do that?) Regardless, use other fruits as desired, pears, apples or even mashed bananas.

1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
10 ounces(3/4 of a 15-ounce can)sliced peaches in syrup
Vegetable oil for frying
Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray, if using

Cinnamon Sugar, recipe under Gingerbread Donuts

　

In a bowl, add the peaches and all of the syrup. Mash with a fork or pulse in a blender or food processor until peaches are cut into very small bits; set aside. In a large bowl, combine first 5 ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the next 2 ingredients well. Pour the liquid to the dry and stir until well combined. Fold in the prepared peaches. Cover with film wrap and place in refrigerator while heating 2 inches oil in a large, sturdy pot to 350-degrees F over medium heat.

Remove the batter from refrigerator and turn onto a well floured work surface. Knead for about 10-15 seconds, or until the dough is no longer sticking to the work surface or your hands. Roll out to about an inch thick, in a rectangular form, and about 12-inches by 6-inches. With a floured pizza cutter or sharp, non-serrated knife, cut strips of dough 6-inches long.

Carefully add sticks to the heated oil 4-5 at a time. Cook 2-3 minutes per side or until nicely browned all over, remembering to allow the oil to come back to temperature between cooking. Transfer to a rack that has been placed over a baking pan lined with paper towels. Let cool for 10 minutes. Lightly spray all sides of sticks with nonstick cooking spray and dip in sugar mixture to evenly coat.



　

Makes about 20 sticks

The Machias Blueberry Festival

All I can say is "Holy (you know what)"...

By the time I finished my 10th dessert to determine who had the best blueberry concoction, I was ready to for a drink....Wait....that was the next category!
There was everything there from pies, cakes, savory and breads. And I must say, they were all delicious in their own right. AND, I was made a convert along the way.
I have always abhorred the taste of vinegar, in any form. I have hated vinaigrette's since I first started making them, many years ago. However, having said that, I tasted a Blueberry Vinaigrette salad dressing that I judged this past Saturday in Machias, Maine and now I have a new favorite salad dressing. The blueberry flavor shined through.
I especially liked the idea of a children's category and that is where my drink came in. Yes, the adults had a beverage category as well, a Blueberry Sangria that was a little heavy and a Blueberry Mimosa, that was a little heavy on the Blueberry Vodka that was added. The children's winner was a Blueberry-Lemonade, that was extremely satisfying. I would love to see more children participate in the years to come.
There was one outstanding concession stand, however, that got my attention(as well as the attention of my daughter who was holding the camera).

Worcesters Blueberry Company of Maine. They had the best assortment of Blueberry Jams, Jellies, Spreads....... heck, everything blueberry. And not just blueberries, WILD blueberries.
The cooking contest, as well as the whole premise of the festival, is centered around WILD blueberries, as opposed to high bush and cultivated(low bush) blueberries. The difference you ask?

                                                           High Bush Blueberries

                                                                         

                                                          Wild(left) and Cultivated blueberries
                                                                courtesy of villagevoice.com


That is open to interpretation and according to who you ask. Ask a cultivator and they will tell you theirs is better. Ask a purist, and the answer will always be the wild. There is one thing, although, that is not in question.
 Considering that the blueberry contains more disease-fighting antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable, all this power evolves from the skin. Just 3/4 cup of blueberries gives you the same, if not more than, antioxidant protection as five times as much carrots, apples and even broccoli. And the skin is to thank for all that health help!
Because wild blueberries are much smaller than cultivated or high bush, it is almost double the skin content per unit of measure. In other words, while you can fit about 80 cultivated blueberries in a cup, you can hold more than 150 wild blueberries in that same cup, thusly molding more surface area. Consider that!.

 So to sum up this great festival, my body is protected for many years to come.