Food Friendzy

4 Fun Ways to Use Cherry This Summer

 

Also known as:  She may wear different faces and flavors, but her name stays the same

Likes: Spring sunshine for blooming and summer warmth for growing bright and juicy

Dislikes: Big freezes.  Just when you think it’s safe to get blooming, Mother Nature sends in the ice…brrrr.

Hobbies: Sweetening pies and puckering lips

Find her: Rolled and baked into pastry, blended into smoothies, glistening in fresh fruit bowls

She is the decoration of spring and the darling of summer, Cherry can sweeten up your snacks and your diet even if it’s just for a short time.  She likes to stay in demand and keep you waiting expectantly for those first signs of her at the market each year.  She lives for that thrilled glint in your eye when you see her and the murmurs and mumblings of satisfaction as you’re enjoying a freshly made Cherry delicacy.  Supply and demand, baby!

Cherry is grown in several countries, including Turkey and the United States, and she can trace her roots back to areas of Northern Africa, Asia and Europe where she has been savored for thousands of years.  Even with this lengthy history of tempting humankind, she is a delicate fruit, which helps to make her the rare commodity that she is.  She is in season for only a short time during the summer and is often harvested by hand to keep her ruby red juiciness in pristine condition.

She knows you may think of her just in terms of pie filling and a luxury of a snack, but she’d like to help you make the most of Cherry season and all the flavor and nutrition she brings to it with these more creative culinary uses:

1. Whole grains – Cherry is a natural fit with a variety of whole grains, including your morning oatmeal and evening quinoa side dish.  Research is also showing that, by adding Cherry to your regular diet, you may get a better night’s sleep, thanks to her natural melatonin.  Healthy diet and better sleep?  She’s happy to help round out your healthy lifestyle!
2. Top salads – Why let Strawberry have all the fun when Cherry wants to play in the greens, too?  Like other popular salad fruits, Cherry pairs well with crunchy nuts and creamy cheeses over a bed of crisp lettuce or spinach and adds to the beauty of a fruit and veggie-rich meal, making it even more enticing.
3. Pair with protein – Proteins like pork and turkey, which you usually see with other fruits like cranberries, apples or apricots, can become something deliciously unexpected when Cherry joins the party.  Try a Cherry sauce or relish to top those grilled meats during the early summer months to take advantage of the more unusual flavor; the extra dose of potassium with your lean protein will help regulate blood pressure.
4. Flavor water – You hear it again and again, especially during the summer: “Drink 8 glasses of water a day.”  Let Cherry help liven up the day-to-day hydration routine.  Slice and pit several Cherries and drop them in your water alone or with a squeeze of lime for added flavor and a touch of all-natural color.  Not only will you stay refreshed, but the added vitamin C (especially if you opt for sour cherries plus the lime) will help support a healthy immune system and keep those eyes seeing well.