Summer Fun with Cherries

(ARA) - The beginning of the summer brings to mind bare feet in the grass, running through sprinklers and eating cherries with juice dripping down your chin. California Bing cherry season is short, so the time for delicious fun with cherries is now.

Fun Facts About Cherries

* Not only are cherries delicious, they're a nutritious snack. Cherries are low in calories and high in vitamins A and C and antioxidants.

* It takes about 250 cherries to make a cherry pie.

* There are about 7,000 cherries on the average cherry tree.

* The cherry is related to almonds, peaches, plums and apricots.

* Weather conditions this year have been excellent to produce a great crop of Bing cherries.

*Cherries are one of the few produce items that truly has a season rather than being available all year long, so get them while they last.

Fun with Cherries

* Cherries are easy to eat - just rinse with cold water, put into a bowl and send the kids outside to make a juicy mess.

* Hold summer cherry contests! See who can spit the pits furthest and who can tie the most knots into the stems.

* Freeze your cherries for a summer treat any time of the year. Simply wash fresh Bing cherries under cool running water, leaving the stems on. Pat gently until very dry, dryness is key. Place cherries in a plastic bag or container and freeze up to three months. Defrost cherries in the refrigerator, not at room temperature, to help maintain the firmness and juice in the fruit. Or eat slightly frozen cherries for a cool delight.

* Spend some quality time in the kitchen with fun and kid-friendly cherry recipes. Fresh Cherry Lemonade is a refreshing twist on a summer classic and kids can roll out the dough and use their thumbs to make yummy homemade Cherry Thumbprint Cookies.
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Recipes:
Fresh Bing Cherry Lemonade
Makes 2 quarts
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 pound fresh California Bing cherries, washed and pitted (about 2 cups)
1 cup fresh lemon juice
6 cups cold water

Directions:
Heat sugar and 1 cup water in a small pot until sugar dissolves. Add 1 cup cherries, bring to a boil and boil until the cherries begin to soften, about two to three minutes.
Set aside to cool.

Strain cooled cherry syrup into a large pitcher, pressing on the cherries to release their juice. Add lemon juice and cold water. Stir in remaining cherries. Pour over ice and garnish with fresh mint.

Bing Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

Cherry Jam

Ingredients:
1 pound fresh California Bing cherries, washed and pitted (about 2 cups)
1/8 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 cup sugar

Cookie Dough

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
2 cups flour

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

For jam: Combine cherries and water in a small pot and simmer over low heat until fruit is tender, about 10 minutes. Add lemon juice, zest, and sugar and stir gently until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil and boil rapidly for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and syrupy. Pour into a shallow bowl and cool, or alternately refrigerate until jam is set. This can be made a day ahead.

For cookies: Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla or almond extract. Add flour and mix until just combined. Form dough into 1-inch balls and arrange on an ungreased cookie sheet. Using your thumb, make an impression in the center of each ball. Fill each cookie with cherry jam making sure each has a cherry in the center. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the dough is set and lightly browned on bottom. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack. Makes two to three dozen cookies.

Note: For more uniform cookies, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before forming into balls.

For more information and delicious California cherry recipes, visit www.CalCherry.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent