If you don’t have
one, run out right now and buy
yourself a cherry pitter
. It’s one of those tools that you never knew you
needed until you have one, and then you’ll wonder how you ever got along without
it. Any small fruit with a pit can be
dealt with using a cherry pitter, and this includes the jar of green olives
that you bought by mistake thinking they were the ones stuffed with
pimiento, but I digress. Practicality aside, there is
something so peaceful and down home about pitting cherries. I put it right up there with shelling peas
and stringing beans. To some it probably
seems like a chore, but to me, it’s a satisfying way of celebrating the bounty
of summer.
. It’s one of those tools that you never knew you
needed until you have one, and then you’ll wonder how you ever got along without
it. Any small fruit with a pit can be
dealt with using a cherry pitter, and this includes the jar of green olives
that you bought by mistake thinking they were the ones stuffed with
pimiento, but I digress. Practicality aside, there is
something so peaceful and down home about pitting cherries. I put it right up there with shelling peas
and stringing beans. To some it probably
seems like a chore, but to me, it’s a satisfying way of celebrating the bounty
of summer.
Another satisfying
way is to indulge in one of my favorite fruits, those blushing beauties, Rainier
cherries, just beginning to come into season.
They are delicious as is, but dip them into dark chocolate and I guess
it’s about as close to heaven as you can get.
And, if you don’t over indulge, you have a good-for-you snack that is
going to satisfy mind, body, and soul. High in fiber, cherries are also
an important source of potassium, vitamin C, antioxidants, and micronutrients. The
best part (aside from the taste), is that one cup of cherries contains only 90
calories! Yes, the chocolate is going to
add a few more, but is well worth it when you consider the cardiovascular
benefits. Quick, easy, healthy,
delicious, these have to be the perfect snack food. Oh, and if you really want to indulge (and
dazzle), plop one of these on top of your favorite ice cream sundae.
Chocolate Dipped
Rainier Cherries
1 pound Melissa's Rainier Cherries
Tear off enough
parchment to cover a cookie sheet, place parchment on top and set aside.
Place cherries in a
colander, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.
Using your new favorite cherry pitter tool, pit cherries from the side,
leaving the stem intact. Set aside.
Pour chocolate chips
into the top of a double boiler and place over water that is just
simmering. As they begin to melt, stir chocolate
until smooth and then turn heat to the lowest setting. Holding cherries by
stems, drag, one at a time, through the melted chocolate. When they are covered to your liking (you can
immerse the entire cherry, or, as I did, leave a bit of the fruit peeking out
the top), and place on the parchment paper to set.
Two comments: I own TWO cherry pitters and I totally agree! Love them! Also: Rainier Cherries - the BEST! We love our cherries up here in Michigan, but unfortunately, they're gonna be super expensive this year because of a late frost :( Wish I could eat those cherries right now!
ReplyDeleteWhen I flew out to Idaho to visit my daughter, I was on the plane with a couple from Michigan. They warned me about the cherry crop this year. As for the Cherry pitter, I'll watch for one but I tell ya, Pattie, they disappear so quickly around here I'm not sure I'll ever use it!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Chocolate covered cherries. I'll see if I can sneak some cherries away from Marion and give it a try.
Thanks for sharing...
Neat gadget. I haven't had fresh cherries in quite some time.
ReplyDeleteCovered in chocolate sounds good.
Thank you for sharing.
I love Ranier cherries! What a great idea to pit them from the side.
ReplyDelete