I was only two recipes away from doing a whole cherry themed
week. Just two! Oh darn, if only I had planned better!
sweet yet tart fruit you better get them while their
informative article I wrote for meal planning/recipe site, Food on the Table, all
about CHERRIES. And in case you were wondering other ways to enjoy this ruby
red fruit, other than simply eaten right out of a bowl, then be sure and check
out the cherry recipes from around the web located at the bottom of this
article.
Summer doesn’t feel official without digging into a large bowl of shiny, sweet cherries. Cherry season is the highlight of the year for many, but with a short season, June through August, don’t let summer pass by without enjoying a taste of nature’s candy!
Cherries are a stone fruit, which means their soft flesh surrounds a hard center seed, called a pit. Cherries are a member of the rose family and a relative to other stone fruits, such as peaches, plums and apricots.
There are hundreds of varieties of cherries available worldwide, all ranging in size, color and flavor. Cherry color ranges from a yellowish-pink to bright red to a deep black; with their size ranging from half an inch to well over an inch.
With all the varieties of cherries available, there are only two common cherry species: sweet and sour. The sweet varieties of cherries are the most common and include Bing and Rainer cherries. Sour cherries, sometimes called tart or pie cherries, include Montmorency and Morello cherries.
Cherries are low in fat and calories and high in fiber. They are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, potassium, and powerful antioxidants that have been shown to provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
When choosing cherries, look for ones with the stems attached as this helps them last longer. Cherry stems should be green in color and snap off easily. Fresh cherries should be plump and firm, brightly colored, with smooth, shiny skins. Avoid cherries that are wrinkled, discolored or soft when squeezed slightly.
Fresh cherries should be stored whole, unwashed, in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. If stored properly, cherries should last for about a week.
Cherries are a delicious fruit that can be enjoyed all on their own, baked into desserts, added to salads, or transformed into beautiful sauces perfect for everything from cheesecake to chicken. To use, remove the stems and pit. This can be done using a cherry pitter or even a decorating piping tip. But use caution, as that bold cherry juice can stain fabrics, countertops, and fingertips.
With cherry season winding down, be sure a gobble up as many cherries as possible over the next few weeks! These cherry recipes from around the web make cherry consumption easy!
Cherry Wild Rice Salad with Key Lime and Sweet Mustard Vinaigrette with Chervil (Notes From Maggie’s Farm)
Ham Steak with Classic Cherry Glaze (Kitchen Concoctions)
Peach Cherry Galette (The Hungry Housewife)
Cherry Balsamic Pork Chops (Kitchen Concoctions)
Blueberry Cherry Baked Donuts (Taste and Tell)
Cherry Chicken Lettuce Wraps (Kitchen Concoctions)
Cherry-Limeade Pound Cake (Recipe Girl)
Roasted Cherry Chocolate Tart (Annie’s Eats)