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May 18, 2007
California Cherries’ “Big Bing Boom” Hints for Memorial Day Holiday Dining
Perfect weather and growing conditions in California are producing what hasn’t been seen for a few years – a large and beautiful crop of Bing cherries. For the past two years, rain during the harvest season has limited supplies of this first fruit of summer. This year, California growers are expecting to produce about 5 million boxes of Bing cherries, about twice what has been harvested during the past two seasons. California Bing cherries are in stores now and will be peaking over the Memorial Day weekend holiday.
Eating out of hand is the preferred method for eating California cherries. But in recipes, they can be both simple and extravagant at the same time. As the featured item in a light fruit salad, cherries are elegant and nutritious too. Of course, there is nothing more perfect for Memorial Day than a cherry pie or, try something as simple as adding halved cherries to your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe.
Cherries are easy to select and handle because they are ripe and ready-to-eat on your store shelf. As with all produce, wash cherries under cool running tap water before eating or using in recipes. Store ripe cherries in the refrigerator until ready to use. For more information and recipes, visit www.calcherry.com.
Fresh Cherry Salad with Melon and Mint
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Sweet, fresh cherries make this light, early summer salad equally
perfect for a buffet lunch or part of a simple family meal. If
possible, use a cherry pitter so cherries can be left whole.
Ingredients:
1/2 small cantaloupe, seeds and skin removed, and cut into 1/2-inch
cubes
1/4 honeydew melon, seeds and skin removed, and cut into 1/2-inch
cubes
1/4 cup minced fresh mint plus mint sprigs for garnish
2 tablespoons light honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups pitted fresh cherries
juice of 2 limes
Directions:
Put the cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and minced fresh mint in a bowl and turn several times. Put the honey in a bowl with the lemon juice and stir until the honey dissolves, a minute or two. Pour this over the melons and turn several times. Add the cherries, turning them in as well. Pour the lime juice over all, garnish with mint sprigs and serve. (Serves 6).
LODI, Calif.--May 18, 2007
Posted by fortna at May 18, 2007 08:01 AM
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