Available for purchase in our Store:  Jefferies Orchard Favorite Recipes Cookbooks and Jefferies Orchard Through The Seasons Cookbooks, featuring many recipes using fresh produce.

Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

2 cups blueberries, divided

1 ¾ cups plus 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour

2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons salt

¾ teaspoons ground nutmeg

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature

1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons turbinado sugar, such as Sugar in the Raw

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Cut twelve 5-inch parchment paper squares.  Line each cup of a 12-cup muffin pan with 1 parchment square, pressing down with drinking glass to form a cup shape, flattening folds.  Set aside ½ cup blueberries; toss remaining 1 ½ cups blueberries with 2 teaspoons flour.  In medium bowl, whisk together baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and remaining 1 ¾ cups flour.  In large bowl, using electric mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.  Reduce speed to medium and add whole egg and yolk in 2 additions, beating after each until incorporated before adding next and scraping down bowl as necessary.  Beat in vanilla.  Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with buttermilk and beating just until incorporated, scraping bowl as necessary (do not overmix).  Fold in floured blueberries, leaving behind any excess flour that does not cling to them.  Divide batter among muffin cups (about a heaping 1/3 cup each; cups will seem very full).  Sprinkle turbinado sugar and press remaining ½ cup blueberries into tops of muffins.  Bake on middle rack of oven until wooden pick inserted into center comes out with a few loose crumbs attached, 20-22 minutes.  Let cool in pan 5 minutes; transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Blueberry Crunch

1 package yellow deluxe cake mix

½ cup chopped nuts

½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Blueberry Filling:  4 cups blueberries, 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch, sugar to taste

Cook 2 cups of the berries with the cornstarch and sugar, then add remaining 2 cups and cook until hot and thickened.  Let cool.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread blueberry filling in bottom of 9” square pan.  Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon lemon juice.  Combine dry cake mix, nuts and melted butter.  Mixture will be crumbly.  Sprinkle over blueberry filling.  Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.  Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Peach Blueberry Pie

Pastry for 2 crust 9” pie

4 cups sliced peaches

2 cups fresh blueberries

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons quick cooking tapioca

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Combine peaches and blueberries.  Combine sugar, tapioca and salt.  Add to peach mixture.  Stir gently to mix well.  Sprinkle lemon juice over fruit and toss lightly to mix.  Place in bottom crust.  Cut butter into small pieces and place over fruit.  Top with second crust.  Cut slits in top of crust to vent.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 30-45 minutes or until lightly browned.

Spicy Apple Jelly Pork Chops

4 pork chops, each one about an inch thick

1 jar Cooper's Mill Spicy Apple Jelly

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

Combine jelly, vinegar, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Place pork chops in a non-reactive baking dish and add about half of the jelly mixture, reserving the remaining for serving. Cover the pork chops to marinate and refrigerate for a few hours, or better yet, overnight.

Remove the marinated chops from refrigerator and let them come to room temperature. Prepare your grill for a medium-hot fire. When the coals are ready place the pork chops on the grill and cook for three or four minutes, then flip and continue cooking on the other side. Continue cooking, turning occasionally, until a little charred and cook through. Serve with the remaining jelly mixture and some grilled green onions.