Watermelon, strawberries, peaches β there are so many fruits that get me jazzed for Summer, but the cherry is my all-time favorite. Whether it's the mild, yellow rainier or the ultrasweet bing, there's something magical about the sensation of biting through the cherry's taut, shiny skin and getting a burst of sweet, slightly tart, juicy flesh. Take advantage of cherries now, because they have a short Summer season that lasts through July. Find out how to best choose β and use β these miniature stone fruits when you read more.
When picking cherries, select fruits that are firm, plump, and without blemishes. Cherries are among the fruits that don't ripen once they've been picked, so choose the darkest ones for the sweetest taste. Don't discount those bright red cherries, however: they make a wonderful tart addition to pies, jams, and drinks.
Admittedly, my favorite way to eat cherries is out of my hand, but nonetheless, I also enjoy making them a regular part of my Summer kitchen in a multitude of ways:
- Serve sweet cherries alongside mint, grapes, and peaches in a Summer fruit salad.
- Whip up a fast cherry pan sauce for lamb rib chops.
- Make cherries the life of the bar with a cherry mojito or a bing cherry margarita.
- Transport yourself to the French countryside by baking a classic cherry clafouti.
- Cool down for dessert with ice cream sandwiches made with cherry chocolate ice cream and puff pastry.
What are your favorite tips for preparing cherries? Please share them with me below!
McQ by Alexander McQueen
LOVE cherries. I always try to stop by the cherry stands on my way down south just outside of Gilroy.
Bing's are my favorite.
1Watermelon and cherries are some of my favorite things about summer.
2Bing me!!!
3This is the second year in a row the Utah Wasatch front range had warm late winters and early springs. My sister's cherry trees bloomed twice before heavy snows hit the region. The timing is off and the fruit will be delayed and not very good this year. I am kind of bummed. I get my canning cherries from her trees.
4I love love love cherries! Going out to buy some this evening, in fact!
5I have about two cups of cherries that I need to use now before I go out of town this weekend! I was thinking muffins, but that clafouti looks pretty great.
6Cherries are my favorites. In fact, I'm enjoying some cherries right now with some creamy brie. Divine.
7Yum!! I just bought some.
8I love love love cherries! I have a big bag sitting next to me right now on my desk! They were on sale at Whole Foods...hooray
9cherry season is sooo short. they just came to our grocery store at a reasonable price last week and i feel like next week they will be back up in cost. oh well...at least i get to enjoy them for now.
10love cherries but sometimes they make my stomach act a little crazy.
nothing is sadder than dropping some $$ on some cherries and they're sub-par.
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