Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Healthy and Flavorful - Getting More Cherries in Your Diet

By KC Kudra

Many of us have great memories of eating perfectly ripe cherries when we were kids, but did you know that cherries could be a great adult treat too. Cherries are becoming known as a great source of antioxidants. Cherries are excellent when it comes to fighting diseases and with a high level of beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, and foliate, it is easy to see why this fruit is becoming so popular with so many people.

When you are looking for ways to integrate cherries into your daily diet, you will find that this is easier than you could believe. Cherries are quite sweet fresh, but you will find that when they are dried and added to other things that they can be quite rich as well. For example, you will find that dried cherries are quite tasty when you put them into oatmeal.

Less sweet than syrup or sugar, dried cherries are a great way to dress up your oatmeal naturally. They are also a great addition to trail mix, where they add welcome color and flavor, not to mention vitamins and minerals.

You can also use cherries in savory dishes like roast beef! Try this recipe to bring out some of the flavor of your roast beef. The juice from the cherries helps to keep the meat moist and juicy and the cherries add a whole new dimension of flavor to the dish. Try making a sauce using the juice from one can of sweet dark cherries, horseradish, sauted shallots, tomato paste and a splash of port. You should simmer the sauce for about 15 minutes.

The sauce will thicken slightly as it cooks; once you remove the sauce from heat, strain the sauce, and then cover. You can sear the cherries and add them along with the sauce over roast beef. This dish can be served as is, or if you have a flair for showman (or show woman)-ship at the dinner table, the cherries can be flambed.

An unusual, but no less delicious way to get your cherries is in chili! Yes, chili! Add about cup of chopped fresh cherries to your chili along with the beans. You can use sweet or sour cherries, whichever you prefer. They add a wonderful flavor and texture to your chili.

Does any one need an excuse to add some fresh cherries to your favorite jello recipe? Among the most popular verities of jello, cherry jello can be mixed with white cake to make an interesting new flavored jello cake. Alternatively, even add them on top with a layer of strawberry or cherry jello to make an interesting top layer.

Mix fresh cherries and cherry jello with a little warm water to dissolve it then slightly chill and fold in some cool whip and make it into a light and fruity icing for a jello layer cake or why not combine the this with the suggestion above to give it a total new twist. How about adding some nice dark cherries to a nice bowl of French vanilla ice cream and all of a sudden, you have a new flavor sensation.

Cherries are a delicious and healthy treat any time at all - go ahead and indulge! You can add them to your diet in many different ways, do not be afraid to experiment a little and enjoy this favorite in new ways. - 16463

About the Author: