Our cherry tree went bonkers this year! We have a Stella variety cherry, and my husband tends to pick some of the cherries a little early, so the sweet ones seem to round out the more sour ones. In any case, a bunch are ripening right now.
We did a big pick last night and I now have 8 cups pitted fresh cherries to do *something* with tomorrow. Preferrably something easy and which can be preserved, with less sugar than usual. But if you have some amazing fresh cherry concoction in mind, please share. The more ideas, the merrier.
FROZEN CHERRIES: If any of you have tips, please share. I'm considering plugging in the basement freezer and doing cookie sheets full of cherries to store in ziplock bags. Do you have any suggestions? I'm all ears (or eyes, in this case).
My kids LOVE smoothies so I'd probably freeze them. Of course you can make some cherry pie filling, not only good in pies but also in turnovers, with waffles and over ice cream, YUM.
We also like dried fruit (hubby and I are on kind of a trail mix kick) and it's VERY expensive to buy, so maybe you could try that as well? Not only for trail mix, it's good with cereal/oatmeal, yogurt and salads!
YYou could make just the cherry filling for a cherry pie or cobbler and use it as a topping for ice cream. You can also make cherry pies but not bake them just wrap really well and freeze. When you need a pie thaw it and bake it then.
You could also wash them well let them dry and then freeze the right amount for a recipe, thaw as needed.
my wonderful sour cherry trees produce every other year, and this an on year! whoop! they should be ready to pick by next week (and the mosquitoes will devour me.......)
your last paragraph is exactly what i do. i pit them, then spread them on cookie sheets, freeze 'em solid and pop them in freezer bags. then i have them for pies and smoothies all year long. they'll be gone by spring, and i'll have to go for over a year without them.
:) khairete
S.
Nervy Girl, Door County in Wisconsin is known for their cherries (among other delicious foods & art, it is a great "get-away" vacation spot), and they have a site with a bunch of different cherry recipes.
Take a look, there is something for all tastes & cooking levels, from cherries in cool whip, to beef cherry-aki, & that's just January!
http://www.wisconsincherries.org/recipes.html
T. =-)
My grandma used to make cherry dumplings. Cover them with water and cook over a low heat to a low boil. As about a cup of sugar cook til it's all absorbed in and you have a nice low boil. Make dumplings out of bisquick and cook them according to the directions on the package. When they are done serve topped with cool whip. Super yummy.
You could pulse a few times in food processor with some orange peel and pecans to put with grilled fish or freeze to have with thanksgiving dinner.
I like them in a salad (mixed greens, onions, cuccumber, tomato, and cherry)
I like them as a savory salad, cherries, feta, basil or oregano, red onion balsamic vinegrette.
I like them in a chicken salad or tuna salad (instead of grapes).
You could use them in a couscous or persian rice recipe.
If you are so inclined, you could probably make some sort of cherry liquer, or schnapps (but I wouldn't know where you'd begin).
Personally, I would just sit on the back porch with a bowl of cherrys and eat them as is.
they pair very nicely with ham (stand in for pineapple).
consider whether you might like them as a tapenade, as a chutney, or on bruschetta and give that a try too.
Best,
F. B.
