15 Jul {National Blueberry Month}: Blueberry Pecan Cornbread Recipe

Intern Kylie here!

There’s something about cornbread that makes me feel like I’m living in a Southern Living Magazine.  And who wouldn’t want their life to look like the shinny pages of a magazine.  Especially a magazine that typically contains more pie than you can imagine what to do with.  My pie-obsessed fiancé, the one who is serving cherry pies at our wedding instead of a grooms’ cake, would know exactly what to do with all that pie.

But back to the cornbread.  Try as you might, you can’t make cornbread fancy.  No matter what you stuff inside it, it’ll always just be a meal that reminds you of home.  Maybe not your home, maybe one of those Southern Living homes…but if there is cornbread involved in a meal, you’re always going to feel like you are eating a love-infused, homemade dinner.  And then add in some southern collard greens and now you’re practically a living and breathing Southern Living Ad.

Now I’m sure there are a couple traditional people out there who have some reservations about ‘messing’ with cornbread.  When I brought this cornbread over to my parents house for dinner my dads’ words were, “What did you do to that cornbread?!”

Well to be precise, I stuffed it with blueberries.  You know, those crisp berries that are packed with antioxidants and have been proven to (1) protect your brain during times of stress and aging, (2) provide anticancer effects, (3) offer improved cognitive performance, and (4) taste completely delicious.  Yes, I stuffed the cornbread full of blueberries and then threw in some pecans.  And the final results were…I’m never going back to plain ol’ cornbread. Ever.

This cornbread recipe makes quite a few servings so it’s great to make and then store in the freezer.  Then, just reheat it as needed to pair with chili, eat at a BBQ, or even make into an egg + arugula + tomato sandwich (my favorite idea).  And since July is National Blueberry Month, what more of a reason do you need to go buy some blueberries and bake them into a cornbread?!

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Source: Blueberries and Human Health: A Review of Current Research. Kalt W; Joseph JA; Shukitt-Hale, B.  Journal of the American Pomological Society. 61.3 (July 2007): 151-160.