Local blueberries are ready.    One of the local pick-your-own farms has a one-for-one offer.    You pick all you want.   Keep half.   Give the other half to the farmer.     The farmer doesn’t have to pay to get his berries picked.   You don’t have to pay for the berries you keep.     Best of all, blueberry bushes don’t have thorns.     They’ll have various varieties of berries available all the way to September, so come on down and get some for yourself.

In honor of the season, here’s a great way to use some of those delicious berries.

Goat Cheese and Blueberry Salad

Salad greens or fresh spinach – enough for 8 salads

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup or more of crumbled goat cheese

1 small can of mandarin oranges

1/2 cup of toasted walnuts or pine nuts

Dressing:

1/4 cup of orange juice

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 tablespoon of honey

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup blueberries

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 cup canola oil

Combine all the dressing ingredients except the oil in a blender jar.  With the motor running slowly pour the canola oil in the top.

Put greens on a plate.   Drizzle dressing over top.   Divide the blueberries, nuts, goat cheese and mandarin oranges between the plates.