by Crystal Schlueter
Ashamedly, I have never been very successful in viewing the northern lights, though I have certainly tried. There were a few occasions where I’ve caught a brief glimpse of a flash of light or a slight green hue, but I have never seen anything nearly as wondrous as the images I see captured by others this time of the year.
Not to be overly deterred, I look for other ways to enjoy the Aurora Borealis. Whenever I have gone out late in the night in hopes of seeing this magical light show, I still found enjoyment in the silhouette of pine trees beneath the ink-colored horizon and the aroma of a campfire lingering in the air from across the lake.
In the nature of my craft, my experiences are translated through a culinary canvas. This led me to the conclusion that if the northern lights had a flavor, there would be a hint
BLUEBERRY BOREALIS BREAD
INGREDIENTS:
1 package (about 1 pound) Zup’s Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Links, thawed 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature 1/2 cup maple syrup, at room temperature 1/4 melted salted butter 1 large egg, beaten 1/2 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary 2 cups Homestead Mills Northern Lites Wild Rice Recipe Pancake Mix 1 cup fresh blueberries
INSTRUCTIONS:
Remove casings from the sausage links. Place a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the sausage. Cook and crumble until well-browned. Drain on a paper towel lined plate and set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8.7×4.53 inch foil loaf pans with butter. In a large bowl, whisk together
of woodsy rosemary, a burst of fresh blueberries, a subtle of smokiness from sausage, and a bit of earthiness from our local lake shore treasure; wild rice. Sure, this may be a bit of a stretch, but stick with me.
Last summer, my blueberry picking venture was rather brief and not overly fruitful. Instead of the ideal setting where one can spend hours in one spot, carefully selecting each berry, I snatched berries by handful, throwing them haphazardly into my bucket, before trying in vain to outrun the mosquitoes to the next spot.
When I got home, I started the lengthy task of sorting all the deep blue colored berries from the pink, violet, and green hues. Still, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful and vibrant the colors were. So it seemed, I had captured all the colors of the northern lights, after all.
the buttermilk, maple syrup, and melted butter. Beat in the egg and rosemary. Add the pancake mix and stir just until combined. Fold in the cooled sausage and blueberries. Divide batter evenly between both pans. Set pans on a cookie sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for at least 20 minutes prior to slicing. Yield: 16 servings
