Berry Berry Gluten-Free!

Finding delicious recipes that are gluten-free is one thing, but find delicious cakes and desserts that are gluten-free and good is another story altogether. Take advantage this summer of the plentiful selection of fresh berries — blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and more…all sweet and delicious on their own, but sometimes even better when served in a cake, pie or even your more savory dinner treats.

Delicious Summer Berry Recipes:

Blackberry Crepes with Cream Cheese

Blackberry Upside Down Cake

Salmon with Blackberry Sauce

Strawberry Salad

Tips on Choosing the Best Berries:

Always look for glossy, plump berries with rich color. When buying berries at the grocery store packaged in plastic containers, turn the box over and make sure that there are no major stains on the bottom. This would signal that there are a few berries breaking down. Also make sure that there are no signs of mold — if even one berry is molding, all the berries can have the moldy flavor.

Blackberries and Raspberries:

If you are planning on eating the berries fresh, pick fully ripe, soft and fragrant berries. If you are going to use the berries for canning, baking, or for cooking sauces, choose berries that are a little firmer.

Strawberries:

Rinse only if they are commercially bought or have been exposed to sprays. A gentle rub with a towel can remove the dust and dirt without sacrificing the flavor that could be washed off with an innocent water bath. Keep the caps on berries until you are ready to serve to avoid premature spoilage. If you have to wait more than an hour before eating, sprinkle berries with a little sugar, cover and refrigerate. Unlike blackberries and raspberries, strawberries tend to be at their best when eaten fresh, rather than baked or cooked.

Blueberries:

Choose round, plump blueberries with a light covering of "bloom" (a whitish coating that preserves the moisture of the berry). They are delicious, both fresh, baked and frozen as well.

– Glutenfreeda