We went cherry picking tonight…
We didn’t have to go very far.
This tree is in our own yard!
We picked two huge bowls and came back inside.
There are cherries for days still on the tree.
What should I make first?
cherry picking
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Next post: dark chocolate cherry galette
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we were talking about that tonight – last night on the news there was apparently a “big upset” in the world record Michigan spitting contest.
Clearly NOTHING is happening in Michigan….
indeed.
I want to make chia jam with fresh cherries…but I ate all my cherries! I need to come to your place!
see?? if only we were neighbors…
I adore them and could eat myself sick…seriously I think they’re my fave fruit!!
I know, I would eat one, put one in the bowl, eat one…
I AM SO JEALOUS OF YOU RIGHT NOW. I vote cherry cobbler. You can NEVER go wrong with cobbler. Or pie. Or ice cream.
cobbler is always good… ice cream sounds interesting… hmm…
No way, us too! (we went to an orchard though)
I have a recipe in mind…wanna race?
no way!
can’t wait to see what you make!
Oh I do miss backyard cherry trees! We had two when I was a kid and we so looked forward to tree climbing and cherry picking and cherry baking-up-a-storm every year. Always pies, because mom was a pie kinda gal.
I might suggest cherry pop tarts…only better than the store-bought sugared-up variety. Maybe a grown-up version, with a hint of liqueur…Amaretto/almond, Frangelico/hazelnut, Cointreau/orange or PAMA/pomegranate?
oh, Nik I love the pop tart idea! I do want to make a pie, perhaps a hand pie / pop tart! Those are always more fun and what I generally make anyway. Having just moved, I miss our SIX blueberry bushes, but this tree was a nice surprise when I started to see cherries!
Yum! They look so delicious! I’d go with a cherry tart!
I kinda HAVE to do some sort of tart or pie, right? its required.
MMMM, I always thought I hated cherries b/c I just associated them with the maraschinos. I have since seen the light. Maybe a cherry sauce for a savory dish.
blech, I am with ya on the maraschino hate – that’s just not right.
Pie! My vote is for pie!!!
P.S. – Those are some seriously beautiful cherries – so much prettier than what I buy in the grocery store!
I know, they are SO pretty – I’m thinking the ones in the store have got to be a different kind, the ones I’ve seen aren’t a deep red, more of a bright orangey red?
Mmm, is “eating plain fresh cherries” a recipe? Because you should totally make that. A lot of that. And then maybe an updated version of a cherry pie? I hate the kind made from the red blobby goo in a can, but I just feel like there’s so much potential there for something fun/unique.
oh we have totally been doing that – a lot of it. my brother stopped by last night and made a significant dent also! I wanted to make some sort of hand pie or galette – never made one of those.
oh my gosh i am so jealous!!!
i recommend some cherry salsa—yum!
oh wow, that is one I had not thought of… YUM.
soooooo jealous of your cherry tree!
i’m not help with recipe suggestions. i’ve bought POUNDS and POUNDS of cherries this summer and have just snacked away on them raw. they’re so good!
yep, we’ve made quite a dent doing just that.
I’m so jealous- I want a cherry tree in my yard! We had both a sweet and sour tree in my yard growing up, but the birds always ate all of the cherries before we could get to them!
Hmm… what to make… some kind of salad? Combining cherries and cheese? Something savory and unexpected- that’s my vote.
And while you’re at it- a smoothie, a dessert involving chocolate, a pie, a tart, cookies…..
mmm, yes! I was thinking goat cheese + hazelnuts. spinach. and there WILL be desserts. plural.
there have been a couple birds here and there, but nothing like I expected (our blueberry bushes used to have tons of birds and we’d put up flash tape – classy – which they would ignore!).
OMG I would LOVE to pick cherries!! That is so fun!! LOVE CHERRIES!! And clearly way too excited about your cherry tree, haha
hee! that’s cool, I am too.
I am so jealous you have a cherry tree! Every time I drop $10+ on them at the grocery store, I think how one day I really, really want to have my own tree. I don’t even know what I would do if I had unlimited access. haha
I know Amanda, it’s kind of overwhelming! Jason and I both have so many ideas for them, though… I don’t think we’ll have a problem!
what gorgeous cherries! oh my gosh! they wouldn’t last long enough to make a pie – i’d eat them straight up!
I have eaten plenty today… too much.
There are SO many on the tree still… but they are very high and we don’t know how to get them down (Jason found a couple extension type tools, this tree goes above those!) we may have to rent a cherry picker machine, weee!
You should make a ship-able box and send some to me of course! LOL.
Maybe a cherry chutney to go on something savory? Mmm I’m thinking grilled cheese with avo and spicy cherry chutney? I’m literally salivating right now.
I was thinking of a chutney – recently talking to my (Hawaiian) dad about his father’s chutney he used to send us… I told Dad I’d recreate it. Grandpa’s didn’t have cherries, but it’s a start!
See! Great minds think alike. I have to figure out the basics of chutney.
me too!
OH MAN, CHERRIES. Are they sweet or tart? Because if they’re tart, then PIE PIE PIE PIE PIE.
I’ve been making schnapps (aka “infused vodka”) with all my backyard plums! You could totally make a cherry schnapps, especially if you have an overabundance dripping all over your backyard. Just fill a jar 2/3 with cherries and cover it with vodka, let steep for a couple months, strain, & drink. Save that fruit!
oh wow, I love this vodka turned homemade schnapps idea! I love it a lot! I may have to save some for this… I may get up from my desk and do this NOW.
You should make a road trip to Calgary to share you bounty and enjoy Stampede!!!
I know I should! I have another friend talking about it… are you near there? Do you know Leanne? (< -- link)
OMG!!!!….you all have a cherry tree….when can we come over???? you best save some for your mama…yeh….
Mom you better get here soon, we are eating them all… wait until you see tomorrows post – it’s a dessert fit for spabettie mom! XXO
OMG your OWN cherry tree??? I would die. Seriously. I LOVE cherries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Send me some! heehee
I know I know I know!! yeeee I am so excited. you should hear the list of things Jason and I are planning. I ate way too many today.
pit them and freeze! Just do that all summer for all year goodness…I am a huge fan of the black cherry smoothie! I like the ice cream idea too!
Lynn I have been pitting all afternoon and evening! my hands are red! you need to come help me! I will pay you in cherries (and stuffed jalapenos).
At the bakery I work at, we made cherry lemonade sweetened with agave and oh my goodness, one of the best things I’ve ever had!
Maddy you had me at “bakery I work at” – you have my dream job.
I may have some cherry limeade popsicles in the freezer right now… 
haha! And did I mention it’s the ever famous gluten free-vegan bakery, Babycakes?
Those popsicles sound delicious!
Maddy now I am severely GREEN with envy! you lucky lucky thing!
What what what? You have cherries in your back yard? I am beyond jealous!!
I was so happy when the fruit started to appear… especially because I was missing my blueberry bushes at the old house!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I have always wanted a cherry tree….le sigh. Tres jealous…
). Cherries Julilee? Cherry Ice Cream, Dehydrated Cherries for making homemade larabars…the list is endless my friend…endless!
how are you? grand I see!
Ok – down to it….How about a Cherry Jam infused with fresh Basil (just hold your pooch over the jars and that should do the trick!
Hugs and hope you get Basil as sister soon!
- Natasha
HELLLLOOOOOOO my dear!
Basil infused cherry jam? I am picturing me waving B-Pup back and forth over the pot…
I dehydrated some already, there are some in the freezer (some to save for later, some in the form of a sorbet!), oh the possibilities!
sending you big loves – hope your summer is going fantastically! XO
Pie!!! Or dip them in chocolate!! Or I’ll eat them for you!
did you see the next post? it involves dark chocolate…
Aww, love this! I went cherry picking as a child, every summer. You could eat as much as you wanted during picking and only had to pay what you carried away outside of your stomach. Can you imagine how stuffed with cherries I always was?
I also enjoy cherry pit long spitting, although I was never really good at it. It was great fun nevertheless, and I always hoped it would make cherry trees grow everywhere. 
I am not good at the pit spitting either, but you are right, it IS fun!
I just finished making come cherry almond jam from the bounty of cherries my neighbors shared with us.
I thought about jam… sounds so good. I think I will try a chutney…
holy crap! i’m so envious of you right now. my parents have a cherry tree in their yard too – lucky bitches
i suggest making some bourbon soaked cherries. of course.
thank you for sharing with us at the Fresh Foods Blog Hop – we hope to see you again this week!
Mmm, bourbon soaked cherries sound GOOD.
lucky! can I come over and pick some!?
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