TastyHealthyThings: Cherries

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Cherry Amaretto Drop Cookies

Several weeks ago I invented a new recipe: Cherry Amaretto Drop Cookies. I can't take full credit for inventing the recipe per-se, rather I simply reconstructed an old recipe for Polka Dot Cookies (PDC) my mom and I make at Christmas. As far as I know, she and I may be the only people that like the PDC's, but nevertheless, we keep making them (and eating them). The PDC recipe calls for red and green maraschino cherries, walnuts and chocolate chips -- pretty fancy. However, with cherry season in full swing I decided to give the PDC recipe a classy little makeover.

It all started by soaking some beautiful bing cherries in Amaretto <<Drool >>. The end result was fab! I added chocolate chips to the last dozen for some variety. These tasty cookies have a cake or biscuit texture, they are not overly sweet. I recommend them to anyone looking to make good use of summer sweet cherries!

Cherry Amaretto Drop Cookies

Ingredients:
1 C. Margarine
1/2 C. Sugar
1/2 C. Brown Sugar
2 Eggs slightly beaten
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 C. Flour
1/2 tsp. Baking soda
2 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 C. Milk
1 C. Bing Cherries, halved
1/3 C. Amaretto

Combine cherries and amaretto in bowl, soak overnight. Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl. Mix liquids, except milk, in large bowl. Add dry ingredients to liquids alternating with addition of the milk.

Drain cherries of excess liquid. Fold into cookie dough.

Drop big teaspoons of batter onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

ENJOY!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Bing! It's Cherry Season!

Yesterday at the grocery store I wandered into the produce section as I would any other day - intending to pick up bananas for my husband. Naturally, I would end up with some ho-hum citrus for myself.

Then I saw them.

My heart fluttered.

A smile swept across my face and I ran to them completely forgetting about the bananas, ~~husband~~ and citrus. "YES!!!!!" I shouted (in my head). "Alas! It is cherry season!" I LOVE cherries. Love them.

An index of recipes started racing through my mind - visions of Bon Appetit! summer volumes perfectly illustrating cherries in desserts, salads, and glazes - oh the possibilities!

I left the store with only one bag. I promised myself to ease into it - savor the season. My little AbbyMuffin and I enjoyed them this morning on the patio (she really didn't have any - but she was certainly curious). It was a beautiful morning - birds chirping, hot coffee in my McDreamy/McSteamy mug and perfectly sweet cherries. I love summer.