As I've harvested and pitted cherries, I've been enjoying thinking about how I will use them in the upcoming months.
That said, after freezing 6 bags with 2 cups each before the cherries on the tree appear to have finally passed their peak this year, I will happily let the birds enjoy what's left on the branches. Pitting these small tart cherries is quite a chore - especially with my hand issues.
Meanwhile, I enjoyed making (and we thoroughly enjoyed eating) a simple cherry cobbler last weekend. It's a pretty standard recipe found in lots of places online, but here it is in case you're interested. Next time I'm going to follow the suggestions for doubling the recipe (or I suppose, I could just use a smaller baking dish) for a thicker cobbler.
It was the first dessert I've had in over three months.
And I do believe it was worth breaking my sugar fast for.
I certainly have no regrets!
I'm curious if you like cherries and if so, what do you like to do with them?
You need to invest in a cherry/olive pitter. It will save your hands. Pitting cherries is not for sissies. That is hard work. Cherry cobbler sounds wonderful and yours looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marsha. I will probably take some time to investigate pitters for next year. These tart cherries are small (smaller than they look in the picture), and I'd love to find a multiple pitter to make the job faster and minimize painful hand movements. Unfortunately, I've read some reviews on these multiple pitters that they don't work well with small cherries. I'm open to suggestions.
DeleteCherries are a rare treat here where we often get a late frost that nips the blossoms. So I have to buy frozen if I want them, and they come pitted.
ReplyDeleteI have to confess... cherries aren't my favorite things. I've only purchased sweet cherries once or twice, and I grew tired of them by the time we finished them. Overall I'm not big fruit eater, but seeing it grow in my own yard, and all I had to do was go out there, reach up and pick some... it was kind of hard for me to take a pass. lol
DeleteI do like cherries, but prefer to eat them as they are. They are the larger, sweet variety. I'd love to have a cherry tree and I'm sure that cobbler would be a great recipe to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI would agree... if these were sweet, I'd prefer them fresh. I tried a few of these fresh picked off the tree and while they're interesting and completely edible, they are too tart for me to actually enjoy eating more than one or two at a time.
DeleteHow lovely to have a cherry tree with an abundance of cherries, I think they are my favourite fruit, I had 3 cherry trees in my last garden and they never produced much fruit and those cherries that did appear the insects and birds usually got them before I did. That cherry cobbler looks yummy. Well done on your 3 month sugar fast. I managed it in May and now I'm making sure that eating sugary things is just a rare treat. 😊 X
ReplyDeleteBased on the sharp bird calls I heard above my head while I was picking, I'm thinking the birds are glad I'm done picking. The top of the tree looks loaded still with cherries, so I wonder how much they're really eating. Whatever they want, though - it's all theirs now. :)
DeleteI wouldn't suffer the least bit of regret over eating that dessert either! Cherries are my absolute favourite, thus spending FAR too much to buy a bag of fresh ones at the store yesterday. I'm hard pressed not to sit and binge on them all.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what kind of sweet cherries you tend to get up there where you are in Canada, Mary Anne.
DeleteI haven't a clue what kind they are - all I know is that they taste wonderful!
DeleteWow! Fresh cherries for a cobbler! Good for you!!! I am sure the work was worth it! Have a cozy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Billie Jo! :)
DeleteFrozen cherries are a favorite, and frequent snack. They also make a nice sauce for cheesecake and cheese blitzes.
ReplyDeleteMay, you remind me... I snuck out a few frozen cherries when I was seriously wanting a treat (shortly after freezing some of the first ones). Makes me wonder if these tart cherries are a little sweeter frozen. I think I need to go find out. :)
DeleteWhy did you start a sugar fast? I'm reading that sugars aren't good for you if you have Lyme. It's so hard for me! Any advice on how to get past cravings?
ReplyDeleteHi Martha. I understand the struggle.
DeleteTo answer you question, every so often, simply for the discipline, I challenge myself to abstain from overt sugars like desserts, candies, and things that are clearly ladened with sugar. Sometimes I also cut out simple carbs when I'm doing this, but this time around I just didn't give myself free reign to eat them mindlessly.
Because Blogger is not allowing me to post the long response I want to, I'm going to write a post on this topic. I'm no expert on this, but I've definitely gotten some tools in recent years that I'd be happy to share with others. The struggle is real. I suspect I will always struggle with sugar addiction, but I've learned some things that have really helped me.
Watch for my post! I'll try to post it within the next week.
Thank you! I admire your discipline and hope to do the same.
DeleteI love cherries but if I want them in a recipe - I buy the recipe already made by someone else. Sometimes I buy the fresh cherries in season just to eat as they are. But no cherry trees near me. Elaine, My Next 20 Years of Living @ blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteElaine, if we didn't have a cherry tree in our side yard I would not be motivated to go find cherry trees to pick. And honestly, I've never been interested in making anything with cherries in it. That said, I'm enjoying it for the moment. lol
DeleteLooks good Becki. Cherry Cobbler is delicious!
ReplyDeleteYes, I had no idea...
DeleteI love to eat fresh cherries. I've been nibbling all day on a few. I love the juice and jam too. I've read they are very good for what ails us!
ReplyDeleteDebra, I'll admit, it was reading all the benefits of cherries that finally convinced me to stand out in the 90+ degree heat a couple of weeks ago to first pick some cherries off this tree. I actually convinced myself to go out today and possible pick some more, but when I looked out the window to the tree I saw there were no more little red cherries on it. The birds have eaten them all up! :) It's good to know what my window of time is on cherry picking from this tree. I'll be better prepared next spring.
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