Cherries - The Super Fruit

The cherry is a stone fruit, in the same family with plums, apricots, and peaches. Cherries, especially sour cherries, have a short growing season. Sweet cherries are generally available between May to August, and sour cherries are available for just a couple of weeks either in mid-June (in warmer areas) or either July-August (in cooler areas).

  Fresh Cherry and Cranberry Cups

Preheat oven to 350° F

Ingredients

·       1 -  8 ounce refrigerated - Pillsbury crescent dough

·       2 cups fresh cherries, pitted (leave out 12 cherries)

·      1 cup of whole cranberry preserves

·      1 tablespoon lemon juice

·      3 tablespoons sugar

·      1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·     3 tablespoons cornstarch

·     3 tablespoons water

Preparation

1.     In a bowl stir together Bring cherries, cranberry preserves, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch and water. Set aside.

2.    Unroll crescent dough and press into 12 cup muffin tins, forming cups - Leaving the points up.

3.    Scoop enough mixture into crescent dough cups to just below the top.

4.    Bake in preheated 350°F oven for one hour. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.

Topping:

1 Package  cream cheese
1/2  teaspoon vanilla
2  tablespoons. heavy cream
1/4  cup sugar
1/8  teaspoon nutmeg

Mix together and top cherry-cranberry cups – use 12 cherries to garnish.