Maine is known for the Lighthouses, L.L. Bean, Hiking, Lobsters, and Maine Wild-Blueberries. So what else could be better than blueberries with candied pecans and espresso wrapped up into a delicious chocolate brownie.
Welcome again to Brownies and Coffee. If you are a returning visitor, you know what to expect in my attempts to wake up your taste buds with an outright face plant into the indulgences of brownies and coffee. This culinary hobby and passion that I have always had in making brownies all with a unique twist, is kind of now an unbelievable experience with all the attention erupting from this blog. This particular brownie is called "Blueberries, Pecans with Espresso... Really!" Be on the lookout for this delicious recipe in the soon to be released book: Brownies and Coffee.
These brownies are the result of having dinner out with great friends, a cup of coffee, and a healthy debate about what fruits may go with chocolate. Tonight we went with blueberries.
Blueberries are nutritious, sweet and frankly speaking, belong in chocolate
This tasty fruit which happens to be blue has multiple health benefits. First of all, let's talk about where blueberries come from. These delectable little morsels are born on the flowering shrub known as Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus i.e., blueberry bush and are actually green until they ripen to the color of deep purple to blue. The two most common types of blueberries are Highbush blueberries and Lowbush "wild" blueberries. Both types of these blueberries are good for you but the Lowbush "wild" blueberries are richer in antioxidants which protect your body from free radicals that cause damage to DNA and their cells which may lead to cancer. Blueberries are high in nutrients and low in calories. Some of the types of nutrients blueberries contain fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and Manganese.
Blueberries appear to have the added benefit of lowering blood pressure and preventing heart disease. And here's the fact that I found very interesting, blueberries are believed to improve memory and maintain brain function. It's reported in one study which asked older adults with mild cognitive impairment to consume blueberry juice every day for 12 weeks, after which they all experienced improvements in several markers of brain function and delay in short-term memory loss. Well, needless to say, I'm now going to be eating blueberries by the bushel (just kidding but I will be consuming these little gems more that I had).
Benefits of Eating Pecans
Pecans are a great source of manganese and copper, two minerals that boost overall metabolic health as well as contain anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce the risk of heart disease. One additional benefit is that these nutrients are believed to prevent high blood pressure.
And lastly more good news on Coffee
This journey of amassing unique brownie combinations and coffee has become very interesting to me in the writing of this book. For instance, with coffee, the fact that the two primary components are caffeine and antioxidants, both of which contribute significantly to brain health. Caffeine keeps your brain alert by blocking adenosine the chemical messenger that makes you sleepy, improves your mood by increasing the neurotransmitter serotonin and helps to sharpen concentration. Drinking coffee over the long term is also known to reduce risk of Alzheimers and Parkinson disease.
So in summary, it's almost impossible to go wrong with this recommended combo of blueberries, pecans with espresso chocolate brownie topped with flakes of pure sea salt and your favorite coffee. Enjoy!
The full recipe for this brownie can be found in the soon to be released book: Brownies and Coffee.
Dr. Newby! So excited to see your blog and read your posts. I learned a lot about blueberries, pecans, and caffeine. Looking forward to your book.