Cheers to Cherries!

Cherry season is here in full force, 

and I can't resist putting them in everything from infused water and lemonades, to smoothies, to boozy drinks and foods like granola, crispy duck, and cherry chicken lettuce wraps...

and don't get me started on desserts! 

Thank you Mother Nature for these sweet treats.

Here are just a few of the ways we used cherries this past week:

Friday's Happy Hour Cocktail;
Cacique shaken with freshly squeezed lemons and limes, simple syrup and split cherries
then topped with seltzer and served over ice.
The cherries added the necessary sweetness and depth of flavor.
YUM!

Dark Chocolate, Cherry, Banana and Kefir Smoothie Deliciousness

Deb Perelman's Awesome Granola with Dark Cherries, Maple + Coconut
(See Smitten Kitchen Cookbook for Recipe)

A perfect nightcap:
An Old Fashioned made with a muddle of cherries, orange zest, brown sugar, bitters,
shaken with top shelf bourbon (such as Blanton's),  topped with a splash of club soda,
 and served cold over ice.

On tonight's menu: 
Pork tenderloin wrapped with Gary's double-smoked bacon served with a cherry-almond compote...

Stay tuned!

Let's enjoy these cherries while they last;

It seems like as soon as they come, they disappear!

Happy Monday Everyone!