There's a cherry tree in my yard busy growing tons of delicious cherries. They have pits in them, and are bitter. Do I use them for baking?
space opera
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
So, they are red cherries? Not darker and sweet like bing cherries?
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Yep, red cherries. From the looks on everyone's faces when they tasted them, they definately aren't sweet. I just need to find out what to do with them. Hate to waste all that free fruit!
space opera
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
yes, my mom does it all the time. You DO have to remove the pits, but the increase in flavor make it worthwhile.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
Well, besides the regular cherry pie, there is lots of stuff you could do with them.
2 pounds fresh or thawed frozen sour cherries (2 quarts), stemmed 2 cups fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 to 2 cups superfine sugar 3 cups white rum (optional) 4 to 6 cups chilled sparkling water Fresh sour cherries with stems, for garnish
Blend cherries (including pits) in a blender at low speed until skins have broken down enough to brightly color liquid (some of pits will be coarsely chopped). Pour through a sieve into a 4-quart pitcher, pressing on and discarding solids. Add lemon juice and sugar, to taste, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour 3 tablespoons white rum, if using, into each of 16 tall (10-ounce) glasses filled with ice. Add 1/2 cup cherry lemonade to each and top off with sparkling water.
♫ I gave my love a cherry that had no stone.... ♪
Posted by Professor Funk (Member # 5608) on :
I've they're very red and very tart, they're probably pie cherries. And what do you do with pie cherries? Well... you can make a lot of pie!
You can also candy them and can them... pie cherries are actually what they make into marascino cherries. Be creative!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I love that lullabye, Pop!
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
quote:There's a cherry tree in my yard busy growing tons of delicious cherries. They ... are bitter.
Mmmm... Deliciously bitter.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Well, since we just bought a food dehydrator, and we are "in the mode," I say dry some! The dried bits would be delicious in muffins and cereal.
Come to think of it, use then as you would cranberries. I bet they would make a lovely sauce.
Edit to add the lyrics to a favorite childhood tune:
[ June 10, 2004, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
We had the same cherries in our old house and they made great pies, at least that's what I heard. I personally hate fruit pies other than apple.
We have a black cherry tree in our yard but no others anywhere near it so it gets really pretty for a week or two but no polination occurs and sadly no cherries grow. any suggestions on what I could do about that?
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Now I want pie.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Get thee to a diner-y, Mack!
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
beat, do you know exactly what kind of cherry tree it is? You need two to pollinate, but you need to make sure they are the "right" two. You can't have the same two, apparently. Black Tartainian, supposedly, will pollinate most sweet cherry trees. Bees could also help. You might try calling your local co-op extension thingy and ask them. They could identify exactly what you've got and what you need.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Wow. There are a LOT of variants on the "I Gave My Love a Cherry" song (real title seems to be The Riddle Song). And I knew it was old, but not 15th century!
This is the version my aunt taught me while rocking a baby to sleep. Since said baby is now in his late teens, I think it's been a while.
And you can hear it too, so I won't be the only one around here humming the darn thing like I have been for the last couple hours!
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Isn't it always time for pie mack?
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
Man, what movie did I just hear that in? This is the second time this week that quote has come up and I can't remember the dang movie!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Wow -- this brings back memories, Space Opera!
Growing up we had four big cherry trees and I can remember picking for hours, then we would all sit in the living room together as a family and each have bowls on our lap, pitting cherries. That was real togetherness.
I couldn't do it as fast as grandma when I was real young, but after several years of practice I got pretty good at pitting -- it's great for hand coordination.
(We also used to sit together like this for snapping fresh-picked green beans, podding the peas, etc.) Ah - those were the good days.
Farmgirl
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
I made a cherry wheat ale once. I won't do that again.
When you make beer with fruit, you need to break them open. With cherries, that means basically squashing them one at a time and I used a lot of cherries.
Then to top it off, the beer ended up sucking.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"Man, what movie did I just hear that in? This is the second time this week that quote has come up and I can't remember the dang movie!"
Kayla, it was the last line of mack's story about getting baptised. is that what you are thinking?
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
quote: I gave my love a cherry that had no stone....
0_o
*smashes Papa Moose's guitar*
Um... sorry.
[ June 12, 2004, 09:50 AM: Message edited by: eslaine ]
Posted by Alucard... (Member # 4924) on :
I live on Cherrytree Road, but I have no cherries, not a one at all...
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*THWAPS* Erik
Why'd you go and do THAT? Now he won't be able to play at the next Shinda. Anyway, I like the song.