NFBE Chapter 342 Processing Blueberries
Chapter 342 Processing Blueberries
Su Nuannuan was currently unaware of the Emperor's specific handling of the matter. However, she knew very well that if the final outcome did not satisfy her, she was fully capable of personally resolving the issue, and the results might even be better.
Su Nuannuan didn't even eat lunch; she went straight to her room for a nap as soon as she got back. She slept very soundly, and when she slowly woke up, she felt refreshed, as if all her fatigue had been swept away. She lazily stretched, instantly feeling energized.
Jinse and Tingxue hurriedly went to help Su Nuannuan get up. After giving her a quick makeover, Su Nuannuan led them to process the blueberries. Although some had already been distributed to the servants on the estate, there were still quite a few blueberries left.
"Your Highness, what should we do with these blueberries?" Zhixiang asked eagerly as soon as she saw Su Nuannuan arrive, her face full of excited anticipation.
Su Nuannuan examined the blueberries in the round baskets in front of her, and had already made up her mind. She replied slowly, "How about this, we'll use most of them to make jam, and as for the rest of the blueberries, we can use them to make all kinds of blueberry desserts."
"Alright!" Upon hearing this, Zhixiang immediately beamed with joy. She quickly picked up a round winnowing basket and looked at Su Nuannuan expectantly. "Your Highness, please teach me how to make this blueberry jam?"
For Chika, there is nothing in the world that brings her more joy than learning new recipes.
"Blueberry jam isn't difficult to make. I just wonder if there's any white sugar left in the village?" Su Nuannuan asked casually, her gaze falling on the round basket full of blueberries that Zhixiang was holding.
"Yes, Manager Qin has already sent someone to buy them." Zhixiang smiled and steadily carried the basket of blueberries toward the small kitchen.
As soon as she entered the small kitchen, Zhixiang carefully poured the blueberries from the winnowing basket into a large basin. Then she looked up at Su Nuannuan and asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, do we need to wash off the white bloom on these blueberries?"
Upon hearing this, Su Nuannuan's heart tightened, and she quickly replied, "You absolutely mustn't wash off this white frost, it's a good thing." She was afraid that if she answered too slowly, Zhixiang would quickly wash off the white frost on the blueberries.
After all, in her previous life, Su Nuannuan had seen many people thoroughly wash off the thin layer of white bloom when cleaning blueberries. However, this is actually a misconception.
Actually, the white bloom on the surface of blueberries is not dirt, but a natural protective layer secreted by the fruit. This bloom is mainly composed of plant waxes, lipids, and antioxidants (such as anthocyanins and oleanolic acid).
The white bloom on blueberries has several remarkable benefits:
First, the white cream is rich in natural antioxidants, which play an important role in delaying aging. Studies have found that the anthocyanin concentration in the white cream is up to twice that of the fruit pulp, and it is also rich in anthocyanins. This substance has 20 times the antioxidant capacity of vitamin C, effectively eliminating free radicals in the body, slowing down cell aging, thus making the skin firmer and more elastic, and increasing the anti-aging effect by 35%. In addition, the white cream's anti-inflammatory capacity is also 20 times that of vitamin C, helping to reduce inflammatory responses and protect overall health.
Secondly, the white frost can also protect eyesight. Studies have shown that the lutein content in the white frost is as high as 0.8-1.2 mg/100g, which is 2.5 times that of the fruit pulp (compared to only 0.3 mg/100g in ordinary blueberries), equivalent to the eye-protecting power of 10 goji berries. Lutein is the main pigment in the macular region of the retina, which can filter harmful blue light and protect the eyes from damage, playing a positive role in preventing eye diseases such as myopia and dry eye syndrome.
Finally, white frost can also enhance immunity. Experiments have shown that daily intake of 50mg of white frost anthocyanins (about 15 blueberries) resulted in a 22% surge in immunoglobulin IgG levels after 4 weeks. This means that the body's immune system is significantly improved, enabling it to better resist the invasion of external pathogens and prevent the occurrence of diseases.
In conclusion, the white bloom on blueberries is not only a natural preservative layer but also a nutrient with various health benefits. Consuming blueberries in moderation allows you to enjoy their delicious taste while also reaping numerous health benefits.
Therefore, dear children, when enjoying delicious blueberries, please do not wash off the thin layer of white bloom on the surface of the blueberries!
After learning that the white bloom on the blueberries could not be washed off, Chika was troubled because she really didn't know how to properly clean the blueberries.
If she rubs the blueberries with her hands, the white bloom on them will definitely be rubbed off. But if she doesn't rub them with her hands, she always feels that the blueberries are not clean and feels uneasy.
Just as Zhixiang was caught in a dilemma and didn't know what to do, Su Nuannuan saw her conflicted and helpless look and kindly suggested, "You can add some water to the basin, then add some salt to the water, and soak the blueberries in it for a while. This way, you can easily remove the dirt on the surface of the blueberries, and salt also has a bactericidal and disinfecting effect."
After listening to Su Nuannuan's words, Zhixiang felt as if she had been enlightened and suddenly understood. She immediately followed Su Nuannuan's instructions, first adding water to the basin, then carefully sprinkling in some salt, and then gently soaking the blueberries in the water.
The time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed in the blink of an eye. Zhixiang looked at the blueberries soaking in the salt water and felt a little more at ease. Then, she rinsed the blueberries carefully several times with clean water to make sure that the salt and other impurities on the surface of the blueberries were thoroughly washed away.
With the help of Jinse and Tingxue, Zhixiang quickly soaked all the blueberries in salt water and completed the final washing.
"First, take most of the blueberries and put them in an empty bowl. Then add an appropriate amount of white sugar and use a rolling pin to mash the blueberries. Remember, do not mash them all, otherwise they will not have a grainy texture."
Before the words were even finished, Zhixiang, Jinse, and Tingxue quickly got to work. Each of them picked up an empty bowl and evenly distributed the washed blueberries into it. Then, they carefully added an appropriate amount of white sugar to each bowl. The sugar fluttered down like snowflakes onto the blueberries, adding a touch of sweetness to them.
After adding sugar, Zhixiang, Jinse, and Tingxue picked up rolling pins and began gently mashing the blueberries. They moved carefully, afraid of crushing them completely and losing their texture. With each rise and fall of the rolling pin, the blueberries were gradually crushed, releasing a rich fruity aroma.
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of blueberries, making one's mouth water. Su Nuannuan watched the three of them busily working and nodded in satisfaction.