The blueberry is one of the few native fruits of North America, and, along with its cousin, the cranberry, was introduced to the European settlers by Native Americans. The early settlers immediately took to the blueberry since it is very similar in look and taste to the European Bilberry (also known as the whortleberry), which was cultivated in European gardens, along with the barberry, strawberry, mulberry and currant, as early as the 16th century.

Native Americans taught the settlers to use the blueberry as a spice by rubbing it onto meats like venison and wild turkey, and to add it to otherwise dull corn meal cakes. They were able to profit from the colonists' love of blueberries. They sold the colonists sun-dried berries by the bushel, so that the settlers could add color and flavor to their meals even in the cold New England winter. Although our recipes are not as exotic as a Blueberry Venison, as the early settlers might recognize, they are tried and true favorites that have been in the family for decades.

	Classic Blueberry Muffins		Blueberry Sauce
	Pam's Blueberry Pie		Blueberry Corn Bread
	Jane's Blueberry Coffee Cake