Cherry Preparation Tips, Gadgets and Recipes
Sweet Juicy Cherries Everything You Need To Know!
This summer cherries have been readily available and very affordable in my area. My entire family loves cherries so just about any time I go to the grocery store I have been buying them.. We have enjoyed them fresh as a snack and as a part of breakfast. My son loves them chopped up in vanilla flavored Greek yogurt.
I enjoy baking and canning all different types of fruit. I have made cherry jam, cherry syrup, froze some and I even put some in my dehydrator! Read on for some handy tips and delicious recipes.
Grow Your Own Cherries
Grow Your Own Cherry Tree
I live in Florida and we have orange trees not cherry trees growing here. However if you live in a cooler climate cherry trees are easy to grow. Just select a bright sunny place to plant your tree in full sun. Once planted a cherry tree benefits from deep watering. Cherry trees only need shaping and not heavy pruning. Like blueberries, cherry trees need to be netted or you will be sharing the cherries with the birds.
Planting A Cherry Tree In Your Backyard
Nutrition
1 cup of cherries has 87 calories
Cherries are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free
They are also a good source of Vitamin C and potassium
Cherries are a rich in antioxidants
Choosing Ripe Cherries
Choose cherries with a deep red color.Look for cherries with no soft or rotten spots. They should have a slight give when feeling and not be hard as a rock.
Wash in cool water before eating.
Fun Cherry Facts
Every cherry tree produces about 7,000 cherries. That is enough cherries for 30 cherry pies!
The United States grows more than 300 million pounds of cherries a year. Almost 75% come from the state of Michigan.
The two main varieties of cherries throughout the world are the sweet cherry and sour cherry.
The sweet cherry is largely grown across California, Oregon, and Washington State, and includes the popular Bing and Rainer varieties.
The Royal Ann is called the Maraschino Cherry A preserved, dyed and sweetened cherry used to garnish cocktails and desserts.
Sour cherries are popular for use in pies or in deserts like cherries jubilee. 95% of all sour cherries sold are the Montmorency variety.
Cherry Pitter
One of my favorite things to have for breakfast are pancakes with warm cherry syrup and whipped cream
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pitted dark sweet cherries
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Bring cherries and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Add in the sugar and butter. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat stir in vanilla. Cool. Transfer to airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
The most familiar types of cherries are Maraschino, Black, Bing, and Rainier .
Macon Georgia is the Cherry Blossom Capital of the United States
Japanese Cherry Tree
The Japanese cherry tree is known for their long weeping branches filled with small pink flowers. It produces tiny berries unsuitable for consumption.Washington DC has an annual Festival dedicated to celebrating these beautiful trees.
Fall Asleep Faster
Tart cherries contain melatonin a sleep promoting compound. Drinking cherry juice wont knock you out but drinking 6 - 8 oz a day will promote better overall sleep.