5 Easy Recipes To Make During National Cherry Month

Here are 5 easy recipes to make during national cherry month. During national cherry month, which is February, try out some new ways to use cherries. These recipes feature cherries in a starter, a main dish, a dessert, a side dish and a drink.

Cherry Soup

If you want to make cherry soup, then you will need:

• 1 pound cherries, pitted
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot

1. Put the cherries, water and wine in a saucepan. Cook for ten minutes, until cherries are soft.
2. Add the sugar and orange rind to the pan. Stir until dissolved.
3. Take out a quarter cup of the syrup in the pan and mix the arrowroot with it. Stir back into the pan.
4. Cook for two more minutes to thicken. Serve hot or cold.

Pork with Cherry Sauce

If you want to make Pork with Cherry Sauce, you will need:

• 1 1/4 pounds pork tenderloin, cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped shallots
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup dried tart cherries

1. Sprinkle with half the salt and pepper over both sides of the pork. Heat two teaspoons of oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
2. Cook three minutes on each side. Put the meat on a plate.
3. Add one teaspoon oil to the skillet along with the shallots. Cook for one minute.
4. Add the broth, half of the salt, the vinegar and the cherries to the pan. Cook for four minutes until half of the liquid has evaporated.
5. Taste to see if it needs more salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the pork and serve.

Cherry Rice Pilaf

If you want to make cherry rice pilaf to celebrate national cherry month, you will need:

• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup dried tart cherries
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 1 1/2 cups cooked rice

1. Put all ingredients except rice in a pan over medium heat. Cook for ten minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Mix the rice into the pan. Cook three to four minutes to heat up the rice.

Cherry Amaretto Crunch

If you want to make cherry amaretto crunch for national cherry month, you will need:

• 2 pounds cherries, pitted
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Amaretto liqueur
• 36 amaretti cookies
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 stick butter, melted

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the cherries in a baking dish. Sprinkle with zest, juice and Amaretto.
2. Grind the amaretti into crumbs in a food processor. Add the almonds and pulse briefly. Stir in the sugar.
3. Put the crumbs in a bowl and add the butter. Mix until combined.
4. Sprinkle the mixture over the cherries. Bake for 25 minutes.

Cherry Smoothie

If you want to make a cherry smoothie, you will need:

• 2 cups frozen tart cherries
• 1 ripe banana, peeled
• 1 cup apple cherry or cranberry cherry juice

1. Put all of the ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
2. Spoon into serving glasses. Serve immediately.