When the Farmers Hand You Blueberries...

The Market Inspiration
It is blueberry season! This all-too-brief time of the year is when you can acquire the most delectable blueberries you'll ever taste. Locally grown blueberries highlight the quality of produce that is grown and enjoyed in season. You can get them from your local farmer's market, like I did, or if you're feeling like a little family outing, you can find a local farm that will let you pick them yourself. These berries are perfect for eating fresh, all by themselves. I wouldn't recommend cooking or blending them, all you need to do is rinse and enjoy, perhaps with a shortcake, yogurt and granola, or as we did, with waffles.

My husband and I recently purchased our first waffle maker, so it goes without saying we have been very happily enjoying waffles for breakfast and dinner too. Fresh fruit on top of waffles adds a great sweet and bright flavor, allowing you to use a less indulgent amount of syrup as you have the berries to replace that sweetness. Another secret I have learned from my husband's family is adding toasted hazelnuts as topping for waffles. I have to warn you right now before you try this combination, once you try it, waffles won't taste the same without fresh berries and toasted hazelnuts.

If you don't already have a tried and true waffle recipe, my favorite is in the 75th anniversary edition of Joy of Cooking co-authored by Irma Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker. There are so many variations so you know the right balance to customize the recipe. I like to follow the adjustment substituting some of the butter for vegetable oil. Also included are recipes for cornmeal and Belgian style waffles you will want to try. View the Joy of Cooking Website to learn more of the history behind this american classic cookbook and the family that has continued refining it through the years.

The Recipe
1 recipe waffle batter
1 pint locally grown blueberries
1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
Maple or pancake syrup

Prepare your waffles based on your waffle maker directions. Top generously with toasted hazelnuts, fresh blueberries and a drizzle of syrup.

Waffles are easy to freeze, which makes them a quick morning breakfast. Toast your frozen waffles and add the toppings.

The Pairing
Just how waffles, blueberries, and toasted hazelnuts are the perfect food combination, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were the perfect screen combination. For more than a decade Fred and Ginger made wonderful films together that defined the movie musical and popular music for years to come. Sweet, silly, and oh-so-much fun, their musicals such as 1935's Top Hat, which sees Fred and Ginger at their best, playing off one another in tremendous dance sequences set to classic music written by Irving Berlin, many of which modern audiences will recognize, even if they have never heard of the movie. - Z