An Impromptu Chutney (Thank's Blue Sky Berry Farm!)

We had friends over on St. Patrick's Day and we started with a Ploughman's Platter. As I shopped for the components, I got panicky when I couldn't find chutney at my local Kroger. In the past, I had purchased the basic Major Grey's Chutney at this store, but none was to be found on Saturday. I hadn't really planned on making my own but realized I would have to.

When I got home, I decided to make it a blueberry chutney (not really Irish, but that's okay). I reached for a jar of Blue Sky Berry Farm (Wanatah, Indiana) 100% Fruit Blueberry Spread. I plopped about a cup's worth into a sauce pan and added a splash of red wine vinegar, some red pepper flakes, ginger, cloves. and a handful of raisins. I brought this to a boil, let it simmer for a few minutes, let it cool, and I was all set - blueberry goodness spiked with the complexity of the other ingredients.

I had met Jennifer Van Meter and her one-year-old son Kyle last week at a local foods expo in Valpo. Along with the fruit spread I picked up some blueberry syrup. Can't wait to fix pancakes. Jennifer and her husband Lew have been in the blueberry business since 2001. They offer U-pick, Ready-pick from July 1 through mid-August. All of their products (i.e., fruitspread, syrup, etc.) are made with their own berries,