Blueberry Maple Syrup and U-Pick Blueberries at Fairfield Farms

How many times have you spent more than you wanted to because that fresh basket of blueberries at the store looked so incredibly tempting??  And then, how many times have you opened the basket and excitedly popped a few of those inviting berries into your mouth only to experience a full shoulder slump as the berries were either soft of had no flavor what so ever?  Unfortunately for me, I've experienced this disappointment more often than I care to admit.

Lucky for you though, if you live in the Southern California LA or San Diego areas I can totally fix you up with fresh, juicy, pop in your mouth, sweet, organic blueberries!  Not only can I get you to the berries, but you and the kids can pick them yourself, assuring even further that you pick the exact berries you want to bring home.  If, that is, they make it that far. 

The Seaside Baker family enjoyed their U-Pick day too!!!

Nothing beats the taste of a fresh from the bush organic blueberry, and 2ith gorgeous views and rows upon rows of perfectly ripe berries, Fairfield Farms U-Pick is the way to go!

Fairfield Farms, U-Pick Blueberries

Clutching my own pint of berries after spending a morning at Fairfield Farm's U-Pick Organic Blueberry Field in Pauma Valley, I have to admit our box didn't make it much past the first few miles before I sampled just a few, and sharing with my husband we made quite a dent as we made our way home.

Fairfield Farms, an organic family owned farm, grows organic avocados, blueberries and various varieties of citrus.  Owned by the Steed Family, this year Fairfield Farms is opening a field of organic, perfectly ripe blueberries for family U-Pick adventures.  Open May 1st and running through early-June (or whenever the berries decide to be done), the U-Pick fields are open from 8AM - 6 PM Thursday through Sunday.  A healthy adventure for the whole family, pints are sold at $5/pint.

U-Pick Organic Blueberries
Fairfield Farms
14224 Old Cole Grade
Pauma Valley, CA 92061

Indulging in a large amount of berries from our day at the farm, my family's first request came in with Blueberry Pancakes.  Easy enough with our favorite pancake recipe, but my husband's suggestion of Blueberry Maple Syrup took a little research.  Internet searches turned up various recipes, but most included small or no measurements of real maple syrup favoring lots of added sugars instead.

Hoping to keep our syrup "real", I simply added the two together at a 1:3 ratio (1 part syrup to 3 parts blueberries), simmered a few minutes and blended.  The first time I strained out the remaining solids, but since then I've simply left the solids in the mix and enjoyed every drop of antioxidant nutrition those sweet berries provided.

With amazing flavor, blueberries fresh from the bush are indeed a gift from nature.  Filled with antioxidants, these little powerhouses are linked to cancer prevention and cardiovascular health.  Known by some as a "super food", I don't need any convincing to make them a part of our daily diet.  Looks like we have just one more reason to bring on an extra pancake!

Blueberry Maple Syrup
A lovely indigo blue, this blueberry enhanced maple syrup brings a healthy dose of sweet nutrition to your breakfast table.  

1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 cups organic fresh blueberries

Place all ingredients into a sauce pan and heat over medium heat.  Bring to a simmer and allow to simmer 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until berries begin to pop and become very soft.  Remove from heat and cool slightly.  Place into a blender and blend until smooth.  Strain with a fine mesh strainer if desired, or leave the remaining solids in the mix for an even more nutritionally dense syrup.

Serve warm or chill.  Store covered in the refrigerator up to about a week.  Enjoy!