Hot Blueberry Elixir–Blabarssoppa RLW Tweak

Hi and welcome back to Ria Lives Well!

Have you heard of a drink called Blabarssoppa? It’s an old fashioned Swedish drink {although Wikipedia says Scandinavian…which is right?!?} that was served to skiers on the alps. Doesn’t that conjure a nice image? An almost enviable image? After a glorious day of skiing, you’re served a sweet, hot beverage to warm you up and loosen your bones.

Blabarssoppa is usually made with bilberries, but today we’re going to make it with it’s less acidic cousin; the blueberry. Blueberries, as most know, are a brain food that protects the memory, strengthens eye sight, and are high in antioxidants and fiber. Since the taste is very similar to bilberries, blueberries make the perfect substitute.

You can get Blabarssoppa ready made at some stores. Preparation is easy; just stir the boxed content into a pot of boiling water–or you can make it yourself, control the ingredients {fresh fruit, vegan sugar…}, and get a better, more delicious outcome. I’m also very wary of foods in a box. Ever since I realized that Jiffy cornmeal muffins contain animal byproduct, I ventured away from the “boxed” grocery sections–with the exception of cereal.

If it feels like Winter where you are, all the better! You still have an excuse to drink a hot mug of this stewed blueberry elixir without breaking a sweat because it’s 80 degrees outside.

Swedish Blueberry Elixir:

2 tablespoon sugar

1 cup water

2 cups blueberries

juice of 1/2 a lemon

pinch of salt

1/2 tablespoon corn starch

The edges getting thicker as it stews! 🙂 Good sign!

Directions:

Add sugar to your pot of water. Raise temperature to medium heat. Add blueberries. Raise to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes {your house will soon smell like a blueberry pie}.

If you have an immersion blender, take the pot off the heat and blend until smooth. If not, take pot off heat and allow to cool. Transfer to a blender, blend on high until smooth. Return to heat.

Add your lemon juice and pinch of salt.

Mix your corn starch with a small amount of water–enough to create a liquid. Pour into your blueberry mix. Whisk away.

Return to heat and cook on medium until the edges thicken.

Pour and enjoy!

This is a good drink to serve to your friends on a cold night; show them how impressive and cultural your culinary skills are.

Here I am, finishing my last cup of my hot blueberry elixir, wishing I had more berries to make a second batch. Blueberries, as most know, are one of the more expensive berries out there, so you can bet my blabarssoppa RLW tweak will be a luxury.

~Live Well!