Cherries, Cherries, oh baby!!!!

Cherries are my favorite fruit; they are so plump, sweet and juicy. I am always reminded of the old days when I lived in Ashland Oregon. There were two cherry trees on the campus of Southern Oregon State College. My daughters were children then and picking these cherries had become an annual event.

We walked by and checked on their ripeness every day. On the days we picked them we'd have picnics, climb the trees then go swimming at the lake. I cherish the memories of those hot Ashland summer days, when it was just the three of us, my little girls and I.

Cherry trees played a large role in ancient legend, myth and folklore. The Chinese believed the tree-bestowed fertility and immortality. In one myth the goddess His Wang Mu had a garden in which the cherries of immortality ripened every 3000 years, the gods would eat them in order to remain immortal.

One Japanese legend tells of a beautiful cherry tree named Lady Yaye-zakura. A grass prince named Susuki had fallen in love with her but she did not care to return his affection. The problem for her was she could only resist him when she was in full bloom, so when her petals fell she submitted. Meanwhile, a plum tree had also fallen for Lady Yaye-zakuras beauty. The plum tree became jealous and outraged at the thought that the loveliest of all trees had given her love to a lowly grass prince.

The plum tree got all the other trees to battle against the grass folk. The trees won the battle and Susuki the grass prince died. Lady Yaye-zakuras heart was broken, and in mourning donned dark robes. This explained the dark color of the flowers and why from then on Lady Yaye-zakura was known as Sumi-zome-zakura, which meant "a cherry tree in black robes"

In Buddhist myth Maya clung to a cherry tree while giving birth to Buddha and the cherry tree bent down and gave her fruit. In Christian legend the cherry tree bent down and gave the Virgin Mary fruit. Mary and Joseph were sitting under a cherry tree and Mary longed for cherries, but she could not reach them. Joseph would not pick them for her saying that the true father of her child should provide them for her. Cherries were dedicated to Mary after that and the cherry blossoms represented purity. In parts of Europe, evil spirits were believed to inhabit cherry trees, but in most myths cherry trees were a blessing that bestowed good fortune and fertility.

In American culture the cherry tree symbolizes honesty, beauty and home. The cherry represents the loss of innocence.

Cherries are a member of the plant family that includes plums, apricots, peaches and nectarines. Fruits containing pits. All of which are juicy sweet and nutritious. There are over 1000 varieties of cherries worldwide. The most popular cherries are the yellowish Queen Anne, these are sweet treats. The Scarlet Morello, which is sour but great for pies. Bing cherries are best eaten raw and the Lambert’s are good cooked or raw. Maraschinos cherries are Queen Anne's that are first bleached in a sulfur dioxide brine, then toughened with lime, dyed red, sweetened then canned.

The health benefits of cherries are numerous. There are 260mg. of potassium in one cup of cherries. The Chinese have used cherries to treat diabetes for centuries and now science knows why. Cherries contain anthocyanins; this is a compound that reduces insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Cherries also contain meletonin a sleep aid. Cherries are a good source of pectin, which helps the body eliminate cholesterol. Cherries are high in vitamin E, fiber and helps with gout and arthritis due to it's an anti-inflammatory property. Cherries are truly another "Wonder Food". Yesterday I found a fruit stand in Yachats and pulled in. Big Daddy, the proprietor told me he has the best fruit any where on the coast and proceeded to sell me a couple of pounds of assorted cherries. He also gave me his recipe for the best cherry pie in the known world. He asked if I had a cherry pitter and when I said no the look of pity in his eyes prompted me to run to Judith's Kitchen Tools and buy one. Good thing I did. So here it is,

Make your favorite 2 crust piecrust.

2 pounds assorted cherries, pitted

Microwave cherries in 1½ c. red wine for three minutes. I used cranberry wine
Drain off the wine.

In a large bowl combine:
1 c. white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

½ tapioca

1 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. Lemon juice.

Pour in pie pan cover with top crust; bake in 425 degree oven for 35 minutes.

Enjoy!

 

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