If you were to ask a fresh produce lover to answer the following statement, "Short and sweet," with the name of a fruit, they might just call out "Cherries!" With a truly short season that runs from June to August, the alluring, delicious cherry is a sought-after summer commodity. From ice cream, pies, preserves, jellies, smoothies and wine, to even studding hamburgers, cherries add so much to a variety of foods and drinks.
Cherries belong to the stone fruit-Prunus-family which includes almonds, apricots, peaches and plums. In North America the most popular sweet cherry is the Bing; large, mahogany red cherries with incredible flavor. Four cherries grown in the U.S. include:
Bing - This cherry has become the standard to which other cherry varieties are compared.
Chelan - This heart-shaped cherry ripens early in the Pacific Northwest and resembles the Bing.
French Montmorency - Cultivated in Michigan for more than a century, the Montmorency is a tart cherry native to the southwest of France, where it is now rare. In Traverse City, Michigan-the cherry capital of the world-the National Cherry Festival will be held from July 4 - July 11, 2009.
Rainier - Delicate and sweet, with high sugar levels, the Rainer cherry ranges in color from yellow to pink with a bright red blush. This fruit bruises easily so it is important to handle them gently.
When choosing cherries, look for firm, brightly colored fruits that are free of soft or brown spots. Store in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, waiting to wash them until just before use.
Cherry Studded Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1 cup pitted and chopped fresh sweet cherries
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons chopped shallots
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 large lettuce leaves
- 4 hamburger buns
Preparation
- Prepare grill for medium heat.
- Gently combine ground beef, cherries, garlic, shallots, basil, Worcestershire sauce, salt and black pepper; form meat into 4 patties. Note: Be careful not to over-handle the meat.
- Grill patties, turning once during cooking time, for about 15 minutes or until desired degree of doneness is reached.
- Place lettuce leaves on bottom halves of hamburger buns. Add patties then top with Hot Cherry Orange Relish and bun tops.
- MAKES 4 HAMBURGERS
Hot Cherry Orange Relish
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped fresh sweet cherries
- 1/4 cup rinsed, chopped unpeeled orange
- ½ cup chopped sweet onion
- 1 pickled jalapeño pepper, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to season
Preparation
- Combine sweet cherries through jalapeño pepper; season to taste with salt and black pepper.
- MAKES 1 ½ CUPS
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