My fridge is full of the last blueberries of the season, and an overflowing basket of white peaches is ripening on the counter. It's about 8 p.m. on a Sunday, and my boyfriend and I have just cleaned up from dinner and are just settling down to read. About 30 minutes later, I am restless. I glance longingly at the peaches. I've eaten three since yesterday, leaning over the sink to catch the juice that runs down my chin. The sweet, succulent flesh pulls clean off the pit and the downy skin is soft against my tongue. Sigh. I'm craving cobbler, but I don't want to expend the energy (or the calories). Then remember I have whole wheat fillo dough in the freezer. Maybe… Success! I wash and skin one ripe peach, rinse a cup of blueberries, and cut a 2-inch length from the end of the frozen dough. I chop the dough into bits and flake it with my fingers. After a dusting of sugar, the berries and sliced peach go into a small greased casserole, and I cover them with the flaky dough. A spritz of nonstick cooking spray and a bit more sugar and some cinnamon, and the dish is ready for the oven. A half-hour later, our dessert is ready. We devour it with two spoons and no guilt. This makeshift cobbler has just 163 calories and 2 grams of fat. Find the recipe here. Daily Spark Tip: Blueberries are seriously good for you. I eat at least a handful most mornings, with yogurt and homemade granola, in oatmeal or atop cereal and soy milk. Blueberries are small and mighty, known for their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. They also contain anthocyanin, the antioxidant that gives the berry its deep color and may also help improve learning and memory (according to studies on mice). Like most berries, blueberries are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, as well as B vitamins, fiber and vitamins C, E and K. Blueberries have been proven to protect against mental deterioration, they contain more antioxidants than almost any other fruit, and they are chock full of nutrients. A cup (two servings) has just 80 calories and 4 grams of fiber! Peaches contain less than 40 calories per medium fruit, and each one packs 1 1/2 grams of fiber! |
More From SparkPeople
|
.jpg)
