A hearty believer that life should be filled with fun and whimsy, Sam weaves together a colorful journey through her delicious creations. Follow along with her recipe tutorials, get sneak peeks into exclusive brand photo shoots, and have a great time along the way. No judgement here, just scrumptious fun!
This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
Earlier this month, I introduced you to the food educational campaign by the Florida Department of Agriculture called “Fresh From Florida”. The program is aimed at promoting locally grown Florida produce and fresh seafood, while educating the public about the seasonal produce that comes out of the state. I was excited to team up with the group since I actually rarely know where my own food comes from… a sad, but common reality amongst many home cooks. The wonderful thing about buying Florida produce is that it supports local farms and small business, while promoting U.S. commerce and healthy living. A win, win, win!
On top of all the deliciousness, the Fresh of Florida campaign has a ton of resources on their website, including recipes. Yes, oh yes, they have a bunch of mouth-watering recipes utilizing the fruits of the land (and water!). I thought I would try my hand at one of these delectable treats and see how I fared with the state’s produce. Naturally I picked the most decadent dish I could find on the website – Florida Blueberry Pancakes featuring Blueberry Compote, Honey Butter, and Blueberry Cream. So, this last weekend I whipped up a batch of this fabulous breakfast and made sure to thoroughly document the process… before me and my family inevitably scarfed down the whole lot at the blink of an eye.
As an extra special treat, I tried my hand at my first ever recipe tutorial video while making the Blueberry Cream recipe. Be kind, internet family, this is my inaugural film and clearly a lightyear away from the Tastemade series. But hey, does Tastemade create recipe tutorials with a 9 month old on their hip? I think not! Alright, enough of my blabbering. Let’s get down to business!
Florida Blueberry Cream
Let us start off with the almost literal “cherry on top”. This cream is not only a delightful topper for your pancakes, it would go well with just about any dessert. And dare I say, it would make for a kick-ass coffee creamer. Beware, this recipe makes a serious amount of cream so you will probably have a lot of leftovers. Follow along with the video tutorial or grab the recipe card below.
FLORIDA BLUEBERRY CREAM
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh Florida blueberries
1 lemon, juiced
6 tablespoons sugar, divided
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 cups heavy whipping cream
INSTRUCTIONS
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine blueberries, 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and lemon juice.
Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer while stirring.
Cook blueberry compote for 6 to 10 minutes until thickened.
Let cool slightly and puree in a food processor or blender. Strain blueberry mixture through a sieve and refrigerate until cool.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk cream and 3 tablespoons of sugar until soft peaks form.
Add the blueberry mixture and carefully fold in, making sure not to over-mix.
Florida Blueberry Pancakes The Fresh From Florida campaign does not screw around with their pancakes! This dangerously yummy recipe takes the flattened goodness to a whole new level using ricotta cheese. These are absolutely delectable, but note that in order to get them cooked through the outside of the pancake might be a little more cooked than preferred. Try them out and let me know what you think.
FLORIDA BLUEBERRY PANCAKES
INGREDIENTS
2 ½ cups pancake mix
2 ½ cups milk
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 ½ cups fresh Florida blueberries plus more for garnish
¼ stick of butter for cooking
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk together the pancake mix, milk, and ricotta cheese in a large mixing bowl until smooth.
The pancake batter should be thick (you can adjust the consistency by adding more milk or pancake mix).
Gently fold the blueberries into the batter. Preheat a large sauté pan or griddle over medium heat.
Add a small amount of butter to the cooking surface.
Add an even amount of pancake mix to the cooking surface, making sure not to overcrowd the cooking surface.
Let the pancakes cook until bubbles start to form in the top of the batter.
Flip pancakes and continue to cook until golden brown and cooked throughout.
Repeat process until all the pancake batter is used.
Keep cooked pancakes warm in a 250-degree oven until ready to serve.
Florida Honey Butter Every good host should have a honey butter recipe up their sleeve. Especially if you’re planning on throwing a brunch anytime soon. They’re super easy and ridiculously delicious, but to get the right consistency it helps to have a recipe. So save this one for a rainy day!
FLORIDA HONEY BUTTER
INGREDIENTS
½ cup butter, softened
⅓ cup Florida honey
INSTRUCTIONS
In a small mixing bowl, combine honey and butter.
Stir ingredients until combined and creamy.
Serve at room temperature.
Florida Blueberry Compote Next on the list is the compote! For those of you who don’t know, compote is a mix between preserves and syrup. And as you might have guessed, it is absolutely delightful. Here’s how you make this extra topping…
FLORIDA BLUEBERRY COMPOTE
INGREDIENTS
4 cups fresh Florida blueberries
3 tablespoons sugar
½ lemon, juiced
INSTRUCTIONS
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine 2 cups blueberries, sugar and lemon juice.
Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer while stirring.
Cook blueberry compote for 6 to 10 minutes until thickened.
Transfer blueberry compote to a bowl and add the other 2 cups of fresh blueberries.
Serve at room temperature.
There you have it! Next time you’re in the market, keep an eye out for Florida produce. You’ll be surprised just how much is yielded from the sunny state. And if you find yourself so inclined to whip up a batch of these delightful pancakes, make sure to invite your favorite food blogger over for a bite!
Florida Blueberry Pancakes The Fresh From Florida campaign does not screw around with their pancakes! This dangerously yummy recipe takes the flattened goodness to a whole new level using ricotta cheese. These are absolutely delectable, but note that in order to get them cooked through the outside of the pancake might be a little more cooked than preferred. Try them out and let me know what you think.
Florida Honey Butter Every good host should have a honey butter recipe up their sleeve. Especially if you’re planning on throwing a brunch anytime soon. They’re super easy and ridiculously delicious, but to get the right consistency it helps to have a recipe. So save this one for a rainy day!
Florida Blueberry Compote Next on the list is the compote! For those of you who don’t know, compote is a mix between preserves and syrup. And as you might have guessed, it is absolutely delightful. Here’s how you make this extra topping…
There you have it! Next time you’re in the market, keep an eye out for Florida produce. You’ll be surprised just how much is yielded from the sunny state. And if you find yourself so inclined to whip up a batch of these delightful pancakes, make sure to invite your favorite food blogger over for a bite!