What to do with raw cherries?

[Scoutesina]

They were on sale and looked so pretty, I bought over a pound. They are tasty raw--sweet and dark, I guess they are Bing cherries? But I'm the only raw fruit eater in my house, and I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to eat them all before they go bad. Does anybody have any ideas what I can do with them? I searched allrecipes, but everything seemed to involve frozen or canned cherries. Can I just use fresh in place of canned (say, in a cobbler recipe), or do they need to be boiled or something first?

[ignutzz]

here's a couple fresh cherry cobbler recipes.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/cherryrecipes/r/bl30622s.htm

http://pie.allrecipes.com/az/72815.asp

in both cases, since your cherries are already sweet, I would omit the sugar (or use a lot less).

You could also do a variation on strawberry shortcake and use the cherries instead.

[kemaji]

If you have an ice cream maker, cherry ice cream! Add chocolate chunks and you've got Ben and Jerry's cherry garcia.

[lml41981]

Cherry Smoothie
1 cup light vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup pitted fresh or frozen sweet cherries
1/2 cup drained canned mandarin orange sections (canned in juice, no sugar added)
1/4 tsp almond extract
4 ice cubes

1. Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour into a tall glass and serve immediately.
Makes 1 serving
Per serving 239 calories, 0 g fat, 3 g fiber WW points: 4 (also Core recipe)

Cherry Clafouti
4 cups pitted fresh sweet cherries, or frozen cherries thawed and drained
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup low-fat milk
2 eggs
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp margarine, melted
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 c sliced almonds
3 tbsp powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray a 1.5 qt shallow baking dish with nonstick spray. Spoon cherries into prepared dish.
2. To prepare batter, in work bowl or food processor, combine granulated sugar, milk, eggs, flour, margarine and almond extract. Process until pureed. Pour batter over cherries. Sprinkle with almonds.
3. Bake uncovered until top is golden and knife inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Just before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Makes 6 servings.
Per serving: 242 calories, 8 g fat, 2.5 g fiber - WW 5 points per serving

Cherry Stuffed Grilled Chicken
1.5 cups pitted and coarsely chopped sweet cherries
1.4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp chopped fresh sage
1/2 tsp each salt and chopped fresh thyme
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts, 4 oz. each
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1.5 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1. In medium bowl, combine cherries, onion, sage, salt and thyme. Mix well. Cut a deep slit into thicker side of each chicken breast to form a bocket. Stuff 1/4 of the cherry mixture into each pocket. Close pockets with metal skewers or toothpicks.
2. In shallow bowl, combine oil, vinegar, garlic salt and peper. Add stufed chicken breasts, turning to coat. Refrigerate, covered, for 30 minutes.
3. Grill or broil chicken, basting occasionally with marinade, until fully cooked (a meat thermometer inserted in center should register at least 160). Cook at least five minutes following the final basting, though.
Makes 4 servings.
Per serving: 221 calories, 8 g fat, 1 g fiber. WW 5 points (Core recipe)

Chery and Hazelnut Salad
6 cups torn mixed lettuce
1 pound fresh sweet cherries, pitted and sliced
2 gala apples, peeled, cored and diced
1.4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1/4 c chopped hazelnuts
1/3 cup reduced-calorie vinaigrette dressing

1. In a large bowl, combine lettuce, cherries, apples, cheese and nuts. Refrigerate covered until ready to serve.
2. Just before serving, drizzle salad with dressing. Toss lightly to coat.
Makes 4 servings
Per serving 191 calories, 8 g fat 5 g fiber. WW 4 points

[lml41981]

http://nwcherries.com/recipes.php?catid=1

[Rose]

OT- Lindsey, your daughter is adorable! I love your new avatar. It seems like you just had your baby, but I am guessing she must be close to a year.

[lml41981]

OT- Lindsey, your daughter is adorable! I love your new avatar. It seems like you just had your baby, but I am guessing she must be close to a year.
Thanks. Seems to me like I just had her, too! She is 9 months. :)

[TriSigmaNC]

We do grilled salmon with a cherry/nectarine chutney and tonight are doing a chicken dish with mushrooms red wine and cherries.

[mel7dog]

If you have an ice cream maker, cherry ice cream! Add chocolate chunks and you've got Ben and Jerry's cherry garcia.

OMG, we are making coffee ice cream right now, but I am SO buying cherries next week!

[PG-rated]

I have the exact same issue - I think I'll go for the homemade Cherry Garcia. Unfortunately, I don't think DH will eat the stuffed chicken breasts or anything like that, and I'm not in a baking mood. But maybe next time.

[Katy]

you guys are nuts! I can devour a pound of cherries (especially raniers) without batting an eye. I love them! Heck, by the time I get home from the farmer's market, they're half gone already :o

[KarenS]

you guys are nuts! I can devour a pound of cherries (especially raniers) without batting an eye. NO kidding. There wouldn't be enough of them left to do anything with. DH and I ate nearly 2 lbs ther other day just sitting and watching TV.

Karen

[BridalLace]

i ate almost a pound of cherries once, with explosive results. i was going to post that story in the now-defunct forum that was yanked, but ah, i guess some other time.

ANYWAY, i second the cherrie smoothie idea. i made them recently for my DD and she loved it. and it was really good!

[tenofcups]

Just have to echo the ice cream suggestion -- Dh makes plain vanilla cherry and also the Cherry Garcia. Yum! He also makes a killer cherry pie.

[Scoutesina]

Wow - thanks for all the recipes and ideas! (doh - I should've done a search on allrecipes for 'fresh cherries').

I'm counting calories and found this Weight Watchers cobbler recipe on here I've been dying to try (can't remember who posted it :o ), and from reading the other recipes, I decided I could just substitute the fresh cherries for the frozen without boiling them first, and it turned out great.

In a 13" x 9" pan, you put down a layer of fruit (or 20 oz. bag of frozen), then sprinkle a box of cake mix over the top, then pour a can of diet soda over that, trying to get all of it wet, but not spreading it around with a spoon or anything, then bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. I used the fresh cherries, a box of devils food cake mix, and a can of Diet Dr. Pepper. Wow, so yummy! More like a gooey brownie or one of those Betty Crocker Warm Delight desserts than what I think of as cobbler, but it is so good. One serving (1/12 of the pan) is 225 calories (assuming 1/2 cup of cherries in that serving) and pretty much no fat.

I actually could've put more cherries in there bc I still have a ton left! I am going to try some of the salad and chicken recipes. Mmmm. I don't have an ice cream maker or blender, so I can't try the homemade ice cream or smoothies, but those sound delectable too. I am a cherry fan. Now I wish it wasn't so rare to see the fresh ones!

[vwinkel]

I was looking at Under the Tuscan Sun book for a chicken recipe and found this one for cherries. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds so simple and good:

Cherries Steeped in Red Wine
Stem and pit 1 pound cherries. Pour 1 Cup red wine and the zest of 1 lemon over the cherries. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and let set 2-3 hours. Serve in a bowl with plenty of juice and a dollop of whipped cream. Can also be served with slices of pound cake.