Final Chance to Make Summer Sweeter with Fresh Cherries

July 20, 2018 - At Home, Blog, Featured - Comments:

Source: Family Features

Whether you use them as a snack, as a special ingredient in recipes or to inspire new dishes, Northwest-grown sweet cherries are one delightful way to celebrate the summer season.

Ripened on the tree and generally harvested, packed and ready for sale within just one day, these treats are some of the freshest summer fruit you’ll find at the grocery store.

Cherry recipes can be enjoyed outside the summer months, too – simply rinse, pack and freeze an extra bag or two of cherries to harness the sweet flavor and health benefits in your appetizers, desserts and sweet or savory sauces throughout the year.

Impress your guests with this ice-cold Cherry Lavender Spritzer. Or try Roasted Cherry Sauce for an accompaniment to your favorite barbecued meat, as an ice cream topper or paired with a cheese plate; it’s one way to have everyone asking for more.

Find more recipes and cherry tips at nwcherries.com.

Cherry Lavender Spritzer

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

4 cups pitted and halved Northwest sweet cherries
2 cups water
3 tbsp lavender
2 tbsp sugar
6 Northwest sweet cherries with stems
6 sprigs lavender blossoms

Instructions:

In small saucepan, combine cherries, water, lavender and sugar. Heat mixture until it begins to boil. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool completely. Strain and reserve liquid.

For each drink, combine 4 ounces cherry-lavender mixture and 4 ounces crushed ice in tall, 12-ounce cocktail glass; top each with club soda. Garnish each drink with one cherry with stem and one sprig lavender blossoms.

Variation: To make an alcoholic version, shake or stir strained cherry-lavender mixture and ice with 9 ounces vodka. Strain into 8-ounce martini glasses, top each with club soda and garnish each with one cherry with stem and one sprig lavender blossoms.