Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie & Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries

Summertime is berry time! I love all the seasonal fruits of summer, strawberries, blackberries, peaches and blueberries. This is the time of year that I stock up on those delicate beauties, so I can freeze them to use throughout the year. There's nothing better than enjoying the fruits of summer in the dead of winter.

Last month Walmart asked me to share a recipe highlighting produce from their Summer Fresh Produce Series. May was Strawberries, so I shared a easy Strawberry Cobbler recipe.  Blueberry season is from May to early October,  so for June it's all about blueberries.

In honor of this beautiful berry I'll be sharing a Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie and recipe for Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries. Before we dive into the recipes I want to point out a few blueberry tips for picking berries at the grocery store as well as for storage.   

1. Always select firm, plump blueberries with an indigo blue color and a silvery white frost. Avoid any berries with a green or red tint, which indicates under ripe berries.
   
   
2. If berries are packaged in a carton, check to make sure there are no juice stains at the bottom of the carton or moldy, crushed berries buried inside. Avoid berries that are soft, mushy or leaking.
   
   
3. Store blueberries, unwashed in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze any remaining berries for future use. Blueberries are low in calorie, high in fiber and filled with antioxidants and natural compounds that help ward off disease and promote good health.
   
   
   
4. Blueberries are a delicious snack eaten alone or mixed in smoothies, yogurt, and baked goods. They also make a wonderful and delicious topping for pancakes, cereal and granola.

Now onto those yummy blueberry recipes I mentioned above. Recently I've been enjoying fruit smoothies for breakfast. Smoothies are quick, easy and very diet friendly. For this recipe I used blueberries, a small banana, almond milk, non fat Greek yogurt and uncooked oatmeal.  

I know what your thinking oatmeal in a smoothie? Trust me on this one, because I was the same way until I got my first taste. My regular fruit smoothies were pretty tasty, but with the addition of oatmeal my smoothies went from good to being a hearty filling breakfast.

Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

1/4 - cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 - cup almond milk
1/2 - cup frozen blueberries
1 - teaspoon ground flax seed
1 - small banana, broken into pieces
1/4 - cup plain, vanilla or blueberry non fat Greek yogurt
1 -  tablespoon honey (if using flavored yogurt omit honey)

In a small bowl, combine the rolled oats with 1/2 cup of the almond milk. Stir and let the oats soak for about 15 - 20 minutes to soften.

In a blender, combine the oats, flax seed and almond milk mixture, the remaining 1/2 cup of almond milk, blueberries, banana, yogurt, and honey. 

Blend until smooth, transfer to a tall glass, and serve.

Cooks Note: if you're using fresh berries that have not been frozen, add about a 1/2 cup crushed ice. Strawberries can also be used in place of blueberries.

Adapted From: Brookyn Atlas

Yogurt Covered Blueberries are a easy treat to make. Fresh blueberries are dipped in plain or flavored yogurt with a splash of honey added.  Goodness this is such a yummy treat. Frozen yogurt blueberries are perfect for kids or adults wanting a healthy snack.  Just dip, freeze and take out what you need to snack on.

Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries

1 - 11 oz carton fresh blueberries
2 - cups vanilla or blueberry non fat Greek Yogurt
1 - teaspoon honey (omit if using blueberry yogurt)

Wash berries and spread out on a baking sheet. Freeze berries for about 30 minutes before dipping.

In a separate bowl combine yogurt and the honey together and stir. Add berries (I add about 10 at a time) and stir until well coated. 

Using a fork remove berries one at a time and place on a large baking sheet lined with wax paper.

Put tray in freezer for about an hour. Once completely frozen, remove from tray and  put in a container or freezer bag. Keep frozen until ready to eat. 

Cook's Note: If using vanilla greek yogurt flavored with honey, omit the additional teaspoon of honey called for in the recipe.

 

If you can't pick fresh berries Walmart provides fresh produce that’s grown locally. Do your part in supporting local farmers. 

This is a sponsored post. As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program , I have received a gift card and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions stated above are 100% entirely my own.