The German Corner - We are having Cherries..... Please share your recipes

Hello friends, 

nice to see you ... how about some nice cherry recipes and stories

Everybody is welcoem as always

have a lovely cherry merry day

Twinkle

Deep Dish Cherry Pie with Hazelnut Crust

Crust:
1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 eggs
3 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup finely ground peeled and toasted hazelnuts

Filling:
2 1/2 pounds fresh or thawed frozen cherries or 2 (16-ounce) cans pie cherries
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger, optional
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Equipment:
6 large ramekins or oven proof individual baking dishes, 8 to 12-ounce capacity
Rolling pin
Large round cutter, (diameter of outside of ramekins, can use ramekins as guide)

Cooking Recipe:

In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix. Add the eggs and mix. Add the flour and mix until almost incorporated. Add the hazelnuts and mix just until smooth, being careful not to over mix the dough.
Form the douugh into 2 disks and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight. If the dough is refrigerated overnight, remove it from the refrigerator 30 minutes before using. Roll out both disks, cut them out a little bigger than the size of your individual baking dishes, and chill while you make the filling.
Preheat the oven (always keep it clean) to 375 degrees F. Drain the cherry juices into a medium saucepan; you should have about a cup of juice. Add the cornstarch, sugar, ginger, if using, and lemon juice, and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the cornstarch. When thickened, turn off the heat, stir in the cherries, and set aside to cool slightly.
Divide the cherry filling among the baking dishes. Carefully place the rolled-out crusts on top. To decorate them, brush the surface of the crust with milk, sprinkle lightly with sugar and use a sharp small knife to make a cross hatching pattern, cutting one vent hole in the center. You may also cut out strips from the leftover dough, and make designs or cherries from it, and adhere them to the top with a little water. Then wash with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
Place the pies on a sheet pan to catch any juices that (or this, or whatever) boil over. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the juices are bubbling at the vents, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Serve at room temperature.

Bada Bing Cherry Pie

adapted from Sheila Lukins for Parade Magazine and Russ Parsons "How to Read a French Fry."

Ingredients:
Pie Crust:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 sticks butter, well chilled
4-6 Tablespoons ice water
1 egg white

Filling:
5 cups Bing cherries, pitted
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon's worth)
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup sugar
pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions:
Cut the butter into 1/4" cubes.  Place the cubes on a plate in the freezer for a few minutes while you measure and blend the dry ingredients.

Combine the flour, salt and baking powder in a food processor and pulse 3 times to mix.  Add the butter cubes and process, pulsing about 8 times at 1-second intervals until the pieces of flour and butter are no bigger than peas.

You can do the next step in the food processor, but I preferred to switch to a large bowl and mix the water in by hand.  Scatter 2 tablespoons of the ice water over the mixture and stir gently with a fork.  If after a few minutes of stirring it still appears dry and crumbly, add up to one more tablespoon of water, a teaspoon at a time, until the dough holds together easily.

Scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into two equal pieces.  Form each piece into a 6-inch disk.  Wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

To prepare the filling, mix together the lemon juice and cornstarch, stirring until the starch is completely dissolved.  Add sugar, cinnamon, and almond extract and stir well, then pour mixture over (pitted) cherries and stir well to combine.

When the crust is finished chilling, preheat the oven to 450F.

Roll it out the dough into 2 circles about 1/8" thick.  Press one circle into a 9-inch pie plate and use a fork to poke holes in the bottom. 

Using a slotted spoon, spoon in half the cherries.  Use a ladle or small measuring cup to gather some of the filling liquid and pour over cherries until you can see the liquid between the cherries at the edge of the pan. 

Moisten the rim of the crust with water and cover with top crust.  Trim off excess and turn the top crust under the bottom where they meet.  Flute the pie crust - to do this, slip your thumb under the crust and use your two index fingers to push the crust down on either side of it.  Repeat at 1 inch intervals around the whole rim of the pie. 

Cut 2-3 vents in the top crust to allow steam to escape.

If you like, you can roll out the scraps and cut out cherry, stem, and leaf shapes to decorate the pie. 

Blend one egg white and 1 Tablespoon water together and carefully brush over surface of pie with a pastry brush.

If you are baking in a disposable aluminum pan, place it on a baking sheet before putting in the oven.  This will make it easier to remove without bending the plate and cracking the pie crust.

Place pie plate (on a baking sheet if needed) in the middle of the oven and bake for 10 minutes at 450.  After 10 minutes, turn the heat down to 350 and bake another 45-55 minutes until the pie is golden brown. 

Carefully transfer the pie to a rack and let cool until it reaches room temperature, then serve.

Serves 6-8 and also it tastes great for breakfast the next day!

Twinkle, yumm, cherries, 'tis the season!  Hope your sick computer gets all better.  We all use laptops so when a computer gets sick, we call the "Geek Squad."  Don't do much with cherries other than eat them.  When making a pie, I just use the canned pie filling, but the cherries don't seem to have much flavor.  Am looking forward to cherry tips, like how to pit and use.

Cherry juice is also good added to seltzer or a favorite soft drink.

Hot and humid here in SE Wisc., around 85.  Dobie is continuing his swimming lessons, lol.  Maynard sits in the shade and eats ice cubes.  Everyone have a great day, lydia.

Hello, Twinkle and to all you late sleepers.

I know this has nothing to do with cherries but the color is about the same.  I made a salad the day before yesterday and it was really good yesterday.

1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced thin

1 large onion, cut in to quarters and sliced thin

1 can of Albertson's pickled sliced beets

1/2 cup of vine vinegar

1/4 cup of sugar

Salt & pepper to taste.

Mix all together including the beet juice and soak over night.

Okay to start your Tuesday morning off right and some of you have children in college you will enjoy this joke.

Talking Dog

A young Southern boy goes off to college, but about 1/3 of the way
through the semester, he has foolishly squandered away all of the
money his parents gave him. Then he gets an idea. He calls his daddy.

"Dad," he says, "you won't believe the wonders that modern education
are coming up with!

Why, they actually have a program here at college that will teach our
dog Ole Blue how to talk!"

"That's absolutely amazing," his father says. "How do I get him in
that Program?"

“Just send him down here with $1,000" the boy says. "I'll get him into
the course." So, his father sends the dog and the $1,000.

About 2/3 way through the semester, the money runs out. The boy calls
his father again.

"So how's Ole Blue doing, son?" his father asks.

"Awesome, Dad, he's talking up a storm," he says, "but you just won't
believe this - they've had such good results with this program that
they've implemented a new one to teach the animals how to READ!"

"READ," says his father, "No kidding! What do I have to do to get him
in that program?"

"Just send $2,500, I'll get him in the class." His father sends the
money.

The boy now has a problem. At the end of the year, his father will
find out that the dog can neither talk, nor read. So he shoots the
dog. When he gets home at the end of the semester, his father is all
excited.

"Where's Ole Blue? I just can't wait to see him talk and read
something!"

"Dad," the boy says, "I have some grim news. Yesterday morning, just
before we left to drive home, Ole Blue was in the living room kicking
back in the recliner, reading the morning paper, like he usually does.
Then he turned to me and asked,

“So, is your daddy still messin' around with that little redhead who
lives on Oak Street?'

The father says, "I hope you SHOT that crazy dog before he talks to
your mother!"

"I sure did, Dad!"

"That's my boy!"

Have a good Day,

Boe

 Thanks for the cherry suggestion Renate and thanks for starting the thread Twinkle.

OK everyone, any home remedies or suggestions for a powerful store bought remedy for poison ivy or oak? I am eaten up with the stuff! My hands and arms are covered and it's starting now on my belly. I just had a few bumps yesterday and it didn't itch too bad but when I woke up this morning, I thought I would die! Scratching feels so good!!!!! I think I got it all over because I walked through it and then handled my clothes later because I know I didn't touch the stuff. This is from last Saturday when I planted my blackberry bushes on our land.  Oh I am so miserable right now and it's not yet 7am so I can't get to the bank to get money for another couple of hours. Normally I would just go get something but I have to deposit a check first. Any suggestions?

Shannon

Hello everyone!

Today I am at work! Hopefully I am doing better today.....

Shannon that awful that you have poison ivy!!! I have never had it, and have just about decided that I must not be allergic to it.....I grew up playing in the woods behind our house and never got it....thank goodness!! Hope you find some relief soon!

Boe you had me rofl at your joke! That is just to cute! :)

Twinkle how are you doing? I am sure you had a blast with your sister and her daughter!

Hi Lydia! Did you have a good breakfast today!? :) How are your furbabies doing?

It is sad to say that I do not have any cherry recipes. :( I have always used the canned cherries that you buy at the store, and if I ever bought any bing cherries (fresh) we would always just eat them! :) I will google later tonight and see if I can come up with some recipes...

Hope that everyone is having a wonderful day!

Jet

Shannon, use your pharmacist for the best remedy.  Buy one or two to see what works.

Oops that you've got that stuff on your property.  Google to see what the leaves look like.  A bath (this is the remedy used by my grandmas) was a warm bath with old-fahioned oats wrapped in a washcloth.  Witch hazel can also sooth the itching after you're out of the bath.  Take some aspirin to prevent inflammation.  Poison ivy/sumac, etc. is highly contagious.  Wash all your clothes/bed linens in very hot water, using bleach if you can.  Also shampoo your hair.  Another home remedy is a herb-tea bath in tepid water.  No bubble baths, can aggrivate the PI.

Boe, good to see you're still a good character, have missed your posting.  Do you think the Sat. nite bar could come back?

Jet, glad to hear you're doing better.

lydia

Shannon, so sorry to hear that you got into the ivy.  I have been all over the world and never got it until one day in the woods behind my house I got into it.

Okay, as you old timers know it, it is story time.  I will tell you a poison ivy story.  I was working in my overalls in the yard all day.  I didn't go into the house to go to the bathroom so I just releaved myself in the woods.  (I did not know that I had gotten into some poison ivy)  I did not quite finish my work so the next morning I just put on the overalls again to finish.  Well the next day I was hurting and starting to swell so Linda got me some lotions but I was not getting any relief.  So the next day it was off to the doctor.  I did not see the doctor but I seen his female nurse practictioner.  Of course she made me pull down my pants and drawers, and of course by then my private parts were really swollen.  Her comment to me was "That would make any man proud"  I laughed so hard, I forgot what I was in there for.  I cannot remember what she prescribed but it started clearing up the next day and the swelling was almost gone.

Hope you enjoy the story.

Bless you today and all the days to come.

Boe 

Boy - I'm gone one day and you all have moved on!  Poor Shannon, sorry I have no help for you, hopefully you have gotten some relief by now.

Boe - I love your poison ivy story.

I am getting used to the job.  It doesn't bother me as much as it did at first and I have met some very nice people, even 'tho some of them have some serious issues.

When I was a child my father planted two cherry trees in our backyard.  One was a sour cherry and one was a sweet cherry.  The sour cherry died, but the sweet cherry thrived.  Unfortunately my father passed away and there was no one to maintain the tree so it got out of control, but every year it would produce tons of cherries.  We got very few of them because the tree was allowed to grow way too tall, the birds loved them.  Unfortunately, the birds would then poop cherry pits all over the yard, house, and garage.  My mother eventually had the tree cut down.  The cherry blossoms were so beautiful every year.

• Tart cherries are loaded with antioxidants that are believed to relieve the pain of arthritis and gout and help fight cancer and heart disease. They're also especially high in the antioxidant melatonin, which may help prevent or reduce brain deterioration associated with aging. And to top it off, they're high in vitamin A and beta-carotene.
• Cherries were brought to America by early settlers in the 1600s. Cherry trees, in fact, were part of the gardens of French settlers when they established Detroit.
• Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian missionary on Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City, started modern-day cherry production in Michigan in 1852. Now, Michigan grows about 75 percent of the nation's tart cherries and Traverse City calls itself the cherry capital of the world.
• It takes about 250 cherries to make a cherry pie; enough cherries grow on the average cherry tree to make 28 pies, industry officials say.
• Tart cherries ripen two or three weeks after sweet cherries. Look for them in mid to late July.
• Cherries are a truly ancient delicacyóexplorers have found cherry pits from the Stone Age in European caves.
• Tart cherries have fewer calories and more beta-carotene than sweet cherries.
• Michigan grows 75 percent of the nation's tart cherries.

• OK, here's our newest discovery: Try eating tart cherries fresh. Everybody thinks they're just for pies, but if you like lemonade, you might be surprised to find you actually like fresh tart cherries better than sweet cherries.
• For the sweetest of the tarts, try local certified organic cherries ó four farms listed at www.LocalDifference.org grow them. The brix, or sugar content, of organic cherries often tests higher. Another sweeter option is the Balaton tart cherry, which hails from Hungary and has been found to grow well in northwest Michigan.
• Sweet and tart cherries are easy to freeze ó pit them if you plan to cook them later; or leave the pits in and they'll give an almond-like flavor. Just spread them out on a tray and put them in the freezer overnight. Then, put them in bags and eat them later, partially defrosted, dreaming of cherry blossoms and summer days.
• Try fresh or frozen cherries ó tart or sweet ó in yogurt with a bit of maple syrup for breakfast.
• Fruit is nature's fast food, and it's both healthy and delicious. Trade in your chips for cherries this month.
• Add cherries to yogurt, cereal, or fruit salads.
• Try sweet, pitted cherries with gorgonzola cheese, green onions, and baby lettuce with locally made cherry vinaigrette.
• If you have access to a food dryer, try drying a batch of cherries to enjoy this winter, either as a snack or a granola ingredient.
• And for a savory recipe, try this one from the Cherry Marketing Institute:
  Carmelized Salmon with Cherry Salsa :
• Stir together 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon grated orange peel and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and rub over 1-1/2 pounds fresh or thawed salmon that you've placed skin side down in a shallow pan. Cover and refrigerate 2 to 8 hours.
• Place salmon, skin-side down, on a gas grill over medium heat or on a charcoal grill four to six inches from medium-hot coals. Grill for 20 to 25 minutes or until the fish flakes easily. Do not turn the fish.
• Meanwhile, toss together one ripe mango or papaya, seeded, peeled, and chopped, with one cup halved tart cherries (thawed and drained if frozen) and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, basil or cilantro, 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper. Spoon salsa over the warm fish and serve immediately. Serves four.

• Try these Cherry-Almond Muffins from www.culinarycafe.com:
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups cherries, pitted, coarsely chopped, and drained
• 1 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• granulated sugar
• Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Sift together dry ingredients and add them to butter/sugar mixture alternately with milk. Stir in almond extract, then gently fold in almonds and cherries.
• Spoon muffin batter into 12 greased muffin cups; cups will be quite full. Sprinkle each muffin with a little granulated sugar, and bake in a preheated 375∞F oven for 30 minutes, or until muffins test done.

• Want to make that cherry pie? A homemade crust is much easier if you chill the fat and flour first, then pull out the food processor. Pulse the chilled flour, salt and fat (butter or shortening) together until it resembles coarse crumbs. Then pulse in a few tablespoons of iced water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough just starts holding together. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface (chill the rolling pin, then dust it with flour so it doesn't stick), then transfer the crust to a pie pan. This basic technique will work for just about any pie recipe.

I am on my way out the door, but couldn't resist to peek at the corner.

Alissa, thanks for starting a new thread. Great topic and I will try to post later.

Shannon, Lydia gave you sonme good advise for your poisin ivy. You have to wait it out before it goes away. I was once covered over my body just like you

Boe, thanks god we have you back (hope so!). Now we all can have some good laughs again. Poison Ivy is no joke when you have it. I got it from a cat once, when we lived in the country. Anyway, your salad recipe came at the right time at my house. I will make it tonight. Veggies in my garden are at the picking time and yesterday I got the first cucumber.

 Bis spaeter

Erna

I know people who swear by this including my DH.  It is also good for gout.

Add a teaspoon of cherry juice in water every day over time you will also see less gray hair. 

Arthritis / Inflammation

For decades, tart cherries have quietly grown a devoted fan base of arthritis sufferers who routinely consumed the fruit (particularly as juice) to help soothe their symptoms. Today there is a body of research to support the cherry folklore.

A growing body of science continues to show that cherry consumption may help relieve arthritis symptoms.

A recent study by University of Michigan researchers revealed a cherry-enriched diet reduced inflammation markers in animals by up to 50 percent. Other studies indicate that the anthocyanins in cherries may be beneficial for a range of inflammatory-related conditions, including arthritis.

Studies also suggest antioxidant-rich foods, like cherries, may help reduce levels of nitric oxide, a compound associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Good news for those looking for natural health solutions.  In a recent survey most respondents said they'd prefer to eat or drink foods with health promoting properties over medical treatment or dietary supplements.  Reducing joint pain and inflammation were among the priority conditions. Also in the survey, 81% of consumers said they'd add more cherries to their daily diet if they knew the health benefits were virtually equal to dietary supplements*.

"Arthritis pain can be very debilitating, limiting activity and overall quality of life," says," said Leslie Bonci, Director of Sports Medicine Nutrition in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.  "As a registered dietitian, I like to recommend food as the first solution to good health. Cherries are great because they have these powerful anti-inflammatory properties and are easy and convenient to eat, from topping cereal or creating a smoothie."

Click here to learn why Leslie recommends choosing cherries to as a natural way to manage and alleviate arthritis symptoms.

Learn more in the Cherry Nutrition Report.

For more information on arthritis, visit the Arthritis Foundation Web site at http://www.arthritis.org/

*Survey of 1,517 adults age 45 and older, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation's Caravan Services, November 2007, on behalf of the Cherry Marketing Institute.

Usage Tips

It's easy to enjoy cherries every single day.

Unlike their fresh cousins that show up only during the summer, tart cherries are available every month of the year. You can find dried and frozen tart cherries, as well as cherry juice (or juice concentrate) anytime you want. Here are a dozen ways you can include this new "Super Fruit" in your daily routine.

1. Grab and Go - Get your antioxidants on-the-go with an easy "do-it-yourself" trail mix using dried cherries, almonds and whole-grain cereal. Or add dried cherries to ready-made granola.
2. Brighten up Breakfast - Swap your typical berries for dried cherries and add them to your cereal, oatmeal, yogurt or pancakes. Just a cup of dried tart cherries gives you one whole serving of fruit!
3. Make Salads Sensational - Add dried cherries to tossed salads, fruit salads and chicken salads for added taste and nutrition.
4. Switch from Blue to Red - Make a change from your standard blueberry muffin recipe and use dried or frozen cherries instead. Visit www.choosecherries.com for delicious cherry muffin recipes.
5. Straight from the Bag - Keep a stash of dried cherries on hand for an antioxidant-rich snack break. Buy single-serve packages or portion out those bought in bulk to keep in your purse, desk or gym bag.
6. C is for Cookie... and Cherries - Enjoy a new twist on the standard oatmeal raisin cookie by using dried cherries instead of raisins.
7. Greater Grains - Add dried cherries to couscous, rice pilaf, grits, risotto and pasta.
8. Be Smooth - Blend frozen cherries with cherry juice concentrate and lowfat yogurt. Add a straw and you have a sensational smoothie for breakfast or a snack.
9. A Perfect Parfait - Keep a bag of frozen cherries in the freezer and grab a handful when hunger strikes. Thaw them for a few minutes and then layer with lowfat vanilla yogurt and granola.
10. Fruit Fizz - Make a refreshing cherry spritzer by adding cherry juice concentrate to ice cold seltzer water - a refreshing treat on a hot summer day.
11. Mix it Up - Look for cherry juice blends, like cherry apple juice. Or, make your own blend and combine ready-to-drink 100% cherry juice with another juice favorite.
12. Juice on the Run - Grab a single-serve bottle of 100% cherry juice or fill a water bottle with diluted cherry juice concentrate as you head out to the gym. Some research suggests cherry juice may help reduce exercise-related joint pain!

Cherry Berry Smoothie

A thick, frosty drink of cherry juice concentrate, frozen cherries, blueberries, lowfat milk, lowfat yogurt and vanilla, topped with a mix of dried cherries and chopped nuts.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup frozen tart cherries, pitted
1/2 cup 1% low fat milk
1/4 cup plain lowfat yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon cherry juice concentrate
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)
8 ice cubes

Garnish:
1 tablespoon slivered toasted almonds
1 tablespoon chopped dried tart cherries

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour into two chilled glasses.

Garnish with almonds and dried cherries. Serve immediately.

Makes 2 servings

Nutrition Info:
Nutritional Analysis for one serving: Calories 164, Total Fat g 3, Sat Fat g 1, Chol mg 5, Sodium mg 57, Total Carb g 30, Fiber g 1, Sugars g 27, Protein g 5