The Culinary Connoisseur
With a Cherry on Top
01
Jun
Jun
We all know they taste delicious, but did you know that if you suffer from arthritis or gout cherries can be a much more potent painkiller than aspirin? Anthocyanins—the nutrient that gives cherries their beautiful red color—found in cherries block inflammatory enzymes, reducing pain. In fact, 20 cherries are 10 times as potent as aspirin and have positive effects on gout and arthritis pain.
Fresh cherries are now at the peak of flavor so take advantage with one of our tasty recipes. Be sure to pick up our new multiple cherry pitter to make quick work of pitting your fresh cherries for these recipes.
For the dressing:
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons balsamic or red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Salt & pepper to taste
For the salad:
4 cups leafy greens; romaine, spinach or baby greens
12 ounces smoked turkey slices, cut in strips
2 cups sweet cherries, pitted and halved
1 mango, peeled and sliced
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
2 cups sweet cherries, pitted and halved
1 mango, peeled and sliced
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
Heat oil until hot in a small fry pan; add crushed
garlic. Cook just until garlic is aromatic. Remove from heat, cool and remove
garlic. Add balsamic or red wine vinegar, honey, dry mustard and ground ginger. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Whisk to combine ingredients.
garlic. Cook just until garlic is aromatic. Remove from heat, cool and remove
garlic. Add balsamic or red wine vinegar, honey, dry mustard and ground ginger. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Whisk to combine ingredients.
Divide lettuce among 4 plates. Arrange turkey strips, cherries, mango, and
kiwi on lettuce. Drizzle dressing over salad.
kiwi on lettuce. Drizzle dressing over salad.
3 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 cup sweet cherries, halved and pitted
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 cup sweet cherries, halved and pitted
1 cup fresh lemon juice
Crushed ice
1 bottle (1 liter) seltzer
4 sprigs fresh mint, optional
1 bottle (1 liter) seltzer
4 sprigs fresh mint, optional
Fresh cherries for garnish
Combine water and sugar in small saucepan; add halved
cherries. Bring mixture to boil then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove
from heat and cool to room temperature.
Strain syrup into an airtight container and discard cherries.
Refrigerate syrup until cold.
cherries. Bring mixture to boil then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove
from heat and cool to room temperature.
Strain syrup into an airtight container and discard cherries.
Refrigerate syrup until cold.
Fill a tall pitcher with ice. Pour lemon juice and 1/3
cup syrup over ice and top with club soda. Drop in whole cherries and mint.
Leftover syrup may be stored in the refrigerator up to one week.
cup syrup over ice and top with club soda. Drop in whole cherries and mint.
Leftover syrup may be stored in the refrigerator up to one week.
For the crumb topping:
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup canola oil
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the cake:
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
10 tablespoons margarine, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup orange juice at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 pounds fresh dark cherries, pitted
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch
springform pan or a 9” x 13” pan.
springform pan or a 9” x 13” pan.
For the crumb topping, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon,
and salt in a small bowl; add oil and almond extract, and toss mixture with a
fork until crumbly. Chill topping in the freezer until needed.
and salt in a small bowl; add oil and almond extract, and toss mixture with a
fork until crumbly. Chill topping in the freezer until needed.
For the cake, whisk together flour, baking powder and baking
soda in a medium bowl. Beat margarine and sugar in a large mixer bowl on medium
speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add eggs one at a time.
Add juice and vanilla. Add flour mixture in three additions, mixing after each,
just until combined.
soda in a medium bowl. Beat margarine and sugar in a large mixer bowl on medium
speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add eggs one at a time.
Add juice and vanilla. Add flour mixture in three additions, mixing after each,
just until combined.
Scrape batter into prepared baking pan and smooth with an
offset spatula. Tap pan sharply on the countertop to remove air bubbles, and
top with an even layer of cherries, pressing slightly into batter. Sprinkle
with crumb topping and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until edges are golden,
cake springs back to the touch, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes
out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool
for 15 minutes before removing sides from pan; let cool completely.
offset spatula. Tap pan sharply on the countertop to remove air bubbles, and
top with an even layer of cherries, pressing slightly into batter. Sprinkle
with crumb topping and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until edges are golden,
cake springs back to the touch, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes
out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool
for 15 minutes before removing sides from pan; let cool completely.