Labor Day Party Recipes with Blueberries

In preparation for my upcoming Labor Day party, I tried out two recipes from Blueberries: 50 Tried & True Recipes by Julia Rutland.

I decided on the Blended Blueberry Margaritas to quench my guests’ thirst, and I tested the Blueberry Dipping Sauce to accompany chicken fingers. I was thrilled with the results of both! What are your favorite Labor Day party recipes?

Blended Blueberry Margaritas

There’s a lot of wiggle room in this recipe. If berries are tart, taste and then add a bit more Simple Syrup. And adjust the amount of tequila with less if you want a mild cocktail, more for a potent kick. For a fun and slushy blueberry limeade, omit liqueurs and add a bit of water to make it a drinkable texture. The recipe serves about six.

INGREDIENTS 
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
11⁄4 cups Simple Syrup (recipe below)
3⁄4  cup fresh lime juice
3⁄4  cup tequila 
1⁄4 cup triple sec or other orange liqueur
6 cups ice or crushed ice
Garnishes: lime wedges, fresh blueberries 

Combine blueberries, Simple Syrup, and lime juice in a heavy-duty blender. Process until berries are finely chopped and mixture is almost smooth. Stir in tequila, triple sec, and ice. Process until ice is finely crushed and mixture is slushy. Pour into glasses; garnish, if desired. 

Simple Syrup: Combine 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Cool; transfer to a jar and refrigerate until ready to use. 

Blueberry Dipping Sauce for Chicken Fingers 

It’s easy and delicious—the best combo! Depending on the amount of chicken fingers you are serving, you can double or halve the recipe—it’s foolproof! 

INGREDIENTS 
11⁄2 cups blueberry jam
11⁄2 tablespoons yellow mustard
11⁄2 tablespoons refrigerated prepared horseradish
11⁄2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 

Makes 11⁄2 cups 

Combine jam, mustard, horseradish, and lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until warm and well blended.