Yeah for fruit!!

[Aesha]

Well, after my last final this morning I drove around a little bit looking for a strawberry stand, and found two. I stopped at both to make sure the prices were the same- $14/flat. They smelled sooooo good, and were huge, and fresh picked... the stands were right to the side of the field. One also had cherries, and I bought a basket and my roommate and I are enjoying them now... so good. I may have to buy a flat of those too. I really don't have the money to be buying $30 worth of fruit, but how can I pass it up?

The only thing I'm worried about buying the cherries is that we might not eat them fast enough. Stupid question- you can freeze them, right? We don't really like cherry pie (well, maybe if I used fresh cherries it would be different), and I don't think I'd like jam with cherries... well... that's all I can think of to use them. Heh. I'll have to think about it while I pack up!

Aesha

[starrleicht]

Ohhh...they sound wonderful! I can't wait to get some nice, ripe strawberries for my jam and other goodies - they haven't been very nice yet where I am.

[Grace]

Yes, you can freeze cherries. Freeze them on a cookie sheet first, all spread out, and when they're solid, put into plastic bags. I would pit them first because when you thaw them, they'll be a lot "juicier" and messier to pit.

You can make cherry cobblers, cherry coffee cakes, and a million other cherry things - do a search on the board for cherries and you should find a whole bunch of ideas.

And I'm so envious of your fresh fruit! Our farmer's market doesn't open until early June, and even then, in the first few weeks, there isn't much in the way of fruit. :( Enjoy your goodies!

[tbb113]

Another thing about the cherries. Make sure you keep the stems ON. The fruit goes bad faster if the stems are off.

[Valerie226]

Save some cherries for cheesecake. make a plain cheesecake & pour a cherry topping over. It is light years better than the canned cherry stuff. I second the freezing idea. cherries hold up better than most fruit although you will want them in something cooked or baked. Like Grace said, make sure you pit them first & be careful of stains. love cherries, hate the mess.

[Kathy B]

You can also dry cherries if you have access to a dehydtator. We have dried them with the pits still in them and eaten them as a snack, kind of like eating sunflower seeds. The kids really like them (as do DH and I).