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Dishes to Make During Stone Fruit Season

Susannah Chen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:11:00 PDT

"Get your cherries fresh and ripe! These are the sweetest you've ever tasted!" a man called out to me as I walked past my neighborhood farmers market this morning. He's right: this month is the perfect time to enjoy Bing and Rainier cherries at their most succulent, firm, and flavorful. We're in the middle of stone fruit season that bears a bounty of apricots, plums, peaches, and their hybrid fruits all the way through the end of the Summer and into Fall. From salads to salsas and sweet treats, here are 10 of my favorite ways to enjoy the fruit family - aside from eating 'em out of hand, of course.

Happy Hour: Cherry Lime Rickey

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:57:33 PDT

Unlike the martini or daiquiri, the rickey is a lesser-known classic cocktail with origins that date back to the 1880s. A traditional rickey consists of spirit (bourbon or gin), half of a lime squeezed and dropped into the glass, and carbonated water. This modernization of the rickey adds a delightful seasonal element to the drink: cherries. Although you could make it with bourbon, I used gin because it's lighter and more refreshing. This concoction is fruity, tart, and absolutely wonderful. Gin lovers will enjoy the perfect balance of sweet cherries, sour limes, and botanical spirit. Want to give it a try? Get the recipe.

Celebrate the 4th With Red, White, or Blue Recipes

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:41:44 PDT

The 4th of July is this weekend, and that means it's time to get festive! Show your patriotic pride by cooking with red, white, and blue ingredients. Many of the season's most delicious offerings - strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and blueberries - fit the color scheme, so don't be afraid to get creative. Here are 10 dishes to inspire your all-American celebration.

10 Cherry Dishes to Make Before the Season Is Over

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:30:28 PDT

It's cherry season, and if you love the plump miniature stone fruits, you better act fast. They aren't around all year, and the time to enjoy cherries is now. To encourage you make the most of cherry season, I've rounded up 10 of our best sweet and savory preparations.

Happy Hour: Wild Cherry Smash

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:00:44 PDT

Recently Stolichnaya, the makers of the wildly popular Stoli vanilla vodka, came out with a new flavor: wild cherry. I got my hands on a bottle and sipped it solo and in a cocktail. When alone, it has a strong artificial smell and taste reminiscent of cherry-flavored cough syrup. The clear spirit, however, does much better mixed into a drink with muddled brandied cherries and fresh lemon juice. A splash of Coca-Cola balances the concoction out and adds a refreshing effervescence. I've always been a longtime fan of Coke mixed with grenadine, and this beverage ends up tasting like a grownup Roy Rogers! Check out the smashing recipe here.

Savory Sight: Chocolate Cherry Cookies

Yum Community — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:50:34 PDT

How scrumptious do these chocolate cherry cookies look? Realtimefarms shared the picture in the Savory Sights group. If you've got some drool-worthy images, why not upload them in the YumSugar Community? Your photo could be featured here!

Cookies by Mill Pond Bread

Summer Soup Two Ways - Sweet and Savory

YumSugar — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:50:24 PDT

If you're a fan of cold soups like I am, I'm sure you'll agree they're the perfect midday refreshment during one of Summer's heat waves.

Although gazpacho takes a lot of credit for its cooling properties, don't discount other traditional warm-weather favorites, like the chilled version of the Eastern European soup known as borscht. The soup's beets, aside from having a nice depth of flavor, also provide a powerful flash of fuchsia color.

Not to be overlooked are the season's ripe fruits for sweet soups as well. If you're already serving borscht, why not create an ultra-playful menu by also serving a blush-hued soup for dessert? Offer another Eastern European favorite, Meggyleves, made from sour morello cherries. For both recipes, keep reading.

Would You Rather Eat Sour or Sweet Cherries?

YumSugar — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:30:03 PDT

While sweet cherries like Bing and Rainier are the typical pop-in-your-mouth varieties, and sour cherries are great for baking and drinks, I'm wondering, which do you prefer?

Burning Question: What's the Best Way to Juice Cherries?

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:50:57 PDT

We're in the middle of a new series called Berry Tempting, wherein we feature a new berry each month. In June, when we featured nothing but cherry recipes and cocktails, something dawned on us: fresh cherry juice is a pain to obtain. Not only are cherries annoying to pit, but they're messy to boot! PartySugar wondered: is there an easy way to turn those fresh cherries into cherry juice?

Indeed, there is. In fact, our best suggestion came from the editors at Gourmet, who recommend blending fresh cherries - pits and all - with some water and a vitamin C tablet to halt oxidation. Once the cherries have been pulverized, strain the liquid over a fine mesh sieve, which will leave out the seeds and skins of the fruit, and skim off any top foam. That's it - juicing is easy as (cherry) pie!

Got a burning question? Join the Burning Question group in the YumSugar Community! It's your place to post the most pressing questions about the culinary world.

Berry Tempting: Grilled Brie With Fresh Cherries

partysugar — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:50:53 PDT

For most of the year, I avoid wearing the color red. It simply doesn't look great with my coloring. However, around the Fourth of July is when I make an exception, I like to wear red, white, and blue - just as I like to cook dishes in these all-American colors. With its creamy white cheese and deep ruby berries, this easy appetizer would be a welcome addition to any festive spread for the Fourth. It's a super quick snack that's absolutely scrumptious. Be sure to grill extra bread, I was a couple slices short and hated to see the last of the gooey cheese and fresh relish go to waste. If you like brie, this recipe is a must make. Learn the simple method.