Simple homemade blueberry ginger jam. Spread of over a toasted goat cheese crostini it’s an irresistible snack.
In the past 48 hours I’ve picked blueberries straight off the bush, researched local farms to start buying organic grass-fed meat from and eaten wild blackberries on the side of the bike trail.
I’m still showering, I swear.
It’s funny how it’s not until you start explaining those type of things to other people who don’t even think about that kind of stuff that you realize how crazy you sound. Saturday night over Mexican, Ulysses stared at me like I had 4 heads when I was trying to articulate how buying meat from the regular grocery store literally gives me a guilt trip the entire time I’m there. I have to mentally talk myself into throwing it in the cart. I will literally stare at a cut of steak and imagine some poor pathetically corn-gorged cow who probably moved all of 20 feet his entire life covered in his own shit (a few too many Netflix documentaries perhaps?). That’s not normal, I know. But, I throw it in the cart anyway because finding organic, grass fed anything where I live requires an excessive amount of effort and time. So I made a decision this weekend to finally buck up, make the time and spend the extra few dollars to find food that doesn’t give me a guilt trip anymore. I’ll just refrain from talking about it in public to avoid the crazy stares.
One of the interesting side effects of the CSA I’m doing this summer is that it’s made me want to celebrate the food more. First I talk buying meat from a farm and now I’m celebrating blueberries…I promise I’m not drinking while writing this.
There’s something about picking the fruit from the bush, knowing exactly where it came from, knowing I don’t have to wash off some crazy pesticides that just makes me want to do something special with it. I buy blueberries all the time from the store. Usually, they just end up in or on my breakfast every morning. But these blueberries (blueberries I picked with my own hands!) seemed too good for that. They’re too perfectly sweet and ripe to just throw in a normal breakfast and be gobbled up without thought.
Simmering them with some ginger and lavender though sounded better.
Spreading that over a goat cheese crostini sounded perfect.
If that makes me a crazy “crunchy” food lady, I’m fine with it. Just don’t expect me to share.
Blueberry Ginger Jam and Goat Cheese Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 tablespoon ginger, minced
- zest of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/2 tablespoon lavender, chopped
- pinch of salt & pepper
- 1/4 cup goat cheese for spreading, or more as needed
- 1 whole wheat baguette, sliced
Instructions
- Combine everything except goat cheese & bread in a small sauce pan.
- Simmer over medium heat for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to help the blueberries breakdown.
- Once thickened, remove from heat and set aside.
- Toast sliced wheat bread and spread goat cheese on top.
- Top with blueberry jam and extra lavender for garnish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I love the idea of blueberries and ginger together! I know what you mean about buying organic… I am reading this book, The Dirty Life, a story about a New Yorker who fell in love with a farmer and farm life and now sells organic food and meat to members who sign up for a yearly membership. Their members get everything from veggies, fruits, eggs, to honey, to maple syrup, cream, butter, meat, and so on. They can even get as much as they want during the summer to freeze for the winter. I recommend you read the book, I am pretty sure you will love it. It’s by Kristin Kimball.
that sounds super interesting! I’ll definitely look into it, thanks!
Goat cheese is my life. And with blueberry jam on top?! You win.
(Also, I have the same guilt trip about chicken at the grocery store. Every.dang.time.)
I definitely know what you mean about feeling guilty about purchasing meat at the grocery stores. After a few netflix documentaries and food based books (Omnivore’s Dilemma especially) I have actively changed my food habits and purchasing decisions. You should check out this website – https://eatwild.com/ there’s a link there to a map of all the high quality farms in your area. Hope you find a good farm nearby!
I came across that this weekend actually. It had tons of good information about farms around here!
Hah! I’m so with you! I even have to keep myself from talking too much about food to my inlaws because they probably think I’m nuts. Although they do buy more organic and healthier stuff now, but still… This sounds amazing… blueberries, ginger, lavender. Mmmm :)
You’re definitely not nuts-o on the local meat topic…high quality meat is super important in my opinion too…and it’s great to support local farmers. If you have Whole Foods out there (forgive me, it’s been a while since I’ve been to NY), check to see if they sell Diestel Turkey products…not technically local, but the best turkey on the planet. They make awesome sausage and chorizo without all the icky grease. :) Your crostinis look yummy!
Unfortunately, the nearest whole foods is 70+ miles away :( which saddens me on many, many levels! haha
YAY :) Good for you, Gina! And seriously, it’s not difficult once you get into a routine. I just stock up on it when I go to TJ’s, and then I buy it at my local farmer’s market, too. Easy peasy :)
I also love your incorporation on ginger in unexpected places…like this jam :)
Blueberry Ginger Jam sounds so delish and chopped lavender? Oh wow, I need to raid your spice cabinet!
This is gorrrrgeous! I’m a fool for ginger and goat cheese. Absolutely adore this.
Oh my gosh! This sounds heavenly!
I’m a crazy food lady too. At least we have each other! ;) I think I can top you though on the the “crunchy” factor, at least this time: I made my own deodorant yesterday. Coconut oil, cornstarch, baking soda, and some peppermint oil. So far, so good, although we’ll see what happens at my pilates class tonight…haha
ok, you win ;) haha