Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

It's cherry time in my world. In the last days I have stemmed and pitted about five pounds of cherries. This week the table features cherries in several ways.

Scallops with Cherry-Tarragon Sauce
Salmon with Caramelized Cherries
Wilted Kale with Cherries
Cherry Salsa with Balsamic Vinegar and Basil
Cherry Chocolate Trifle

Cherry-Lentil Salad

Cherries are only fresh a short time and I want to use them as much as I can during this time. Here is my cherry table:

Scallops are salt and peppered and seared in a very hot pan. They are removed and shallots are cooked until soft. Rice vinegar and chopped cherries are added. The scallops are returned to the pan along with chopped fresh tarragon. The sauce is poured over the scallops at serving. It was an excellent dish and I will use the sauce with other seafood.

Salmon was also cooked quickly in a hot pan. Chopped cherries are added with lemon juice, agave nectar and fresh thyme. Cherries are an excellent accompaniment to seafood.

A side dish of kale with cherries was also part of the table. Shallots are cooked with apple juice. The kale is chopped and added, covered to wilt. At service, the kale is tossed with toasted walnuts and chopped cherries. A colorful and delicious dish.

A dish of cherry salsa was made and will be used during the week with chicken. In a covered container chopped cherries are mixed with chopped jalapeno, shallot, chopped basil, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper.

Dessert was a cherry chocolate trifle. In a tall glass I chopped Walker's shortbread cookies. Cherries are simmered with brandy (I used water and brandy flavoring) until the cherries are soft. The mixture is cooled and spooned over the cookies. Cream cheese and whipping cream are mixed with a bit of almond extract and spooned over the cherries. Toasted almond slices and grated dark chocolate top the glass and it is chilled. Yummy!

I had a recipe for Cherry-Lentil Salad for the week, but, would you believe...I ran out of cherries. Will need to buy more for the dish and also to freeze and bag for future use.

Have a good week and perhaps cherries will be on the table next week.