46 Comments

Oh, my good this was definitely a time travel! Back to the 1960's and 70's when I grew up in the Niagara Fruit Belt. My mother would get full bushels of sour cherries from the neighbour whose wife owned orchards between my home town and Olcott Beach. The Cherry Cobbler! The cherry pies! And bags of frozen cherries that came out during those grey Western New York winters.

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I loved reading this, Amy! I just read more about the Niagara Fruit Belt because of your comment, thank you. Bushels of sour cherries— how great to have bags of them frozen for winter, you grew up close to Buffalo?

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Oh, my good this was definitely a time travel! Back to the 1960's and 70's when I grew up in the Niagara Fruit Belt. My mother would get full bushels of sour cherries from the neighbour whose wife owned orchards between my home town and Olcott Beach. The Cherry Cobbler! The cherry pies! And bags of frozen cherries that came out during those grey Western New York winters.

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How great to have those frozen cherries in winter, Amy! Were you near Buffalo?

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Jolene ~ I have had many breakfasts, and pies, from the Cherry Hut, in Beulah! It's an institution Up North. My husband is a Michigander/Michiganian and for many years, we would go up every August to visit family, kayak down the Platte River, and eat lots of cherry...everything. The Leelanau Peninsula is one of my favorite places on earth after Italy. xo (P.S. thanks for the kind mention :-))

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Wow!! I love hearing this, Domenica! (And, I’m jealous! 😂🍒)

I have been planning a trip to explore Michigan and will definitely want to talk to you first! xo ps - we have a growing granita of the week club — this week: pink grapefruit :)

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Fantastic! I'm working on one for an upcoming newsletter...

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👏👏👏

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Okay, this was amazing. I didn't see your substitution of cornstarch for tapioca until now, so obedient recipe follower that I am, I went out into 90 degrees and bought tapioca flour. Husbandly unit, not normally effusive about food, actually gave this one a "very good". Now I might splurge on a faster pitting gadget...

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You are the best!

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Hi Jolene! Would regular/sweet cherries work for the crumble? And thanks for another mention if the granita. I still want to make some.

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Sure, you might want to take out a tablespoon of sugar from the cherry mixture (since the cherries have some sweetness) so it’s not too sweet. The crumble topping is really good, I won’t mess with that! Let me know how it goes, there are also lots of sweet cherry crumble and crisp recipes online that look great!

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Cherrylicious! 🍒🍒🍒

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Yes, Stygi! 🍒🍒🍒

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Always a delight to receive your mouth-watering missives, Jolene!

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Thank you so much, Matt! 🍒

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I love this! It's so interesting to me because up in Andersonville (what, like 15 minutes from you?), we go crazy for ramps and squash blossoms at the farmers market, and cherries not so much. I haven't made a crumble in a while - you've inspired me to make one this weekend!

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That’s so funny, Jen! What day(s) is the Andersonville market? I want squash blossoms! 😂 Let me know how it goes with the crumble! 🍒

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Wednesdays from 3-7! I go every week, let me know when you’re going and I’ll meet you. :-)

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Terrific! I’ll bring sour cherries 🍒 from Streeterville! 😂

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I would like the crumble for breakfast, too! I enjoyed delicious cherry pie in Door County, Wisconsin several years ago. Cherry jelly also! We bought it at "Aunt Bea's," so memorable. I'd love to tag along with you to market on Tuesday morning!

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Ooh, I have to look Aunt Bea’s up, Pam! I’m with you, crumble for breakfast is 🙌 have a great weekend! 🍒

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Check out the website at Bea's Ho-Made Products! 💕

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Thank you, Pam! 😃

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I’m going to start looking for a source for sour cherries in So Cal or send away for some frozen ones! Your recipe looks too good to pass up, Jolene!

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Hi, Ruth! I’m going to investigate places you might get them, here’s an article from the LA Times https://www.latimes.com/food/newsletter/2022-06-05/cooking-cherry-season-pitting-sour-markets-recipes-cooking-editorial

Have a great weekend! 🍒

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You know, I'm not sure I've had had sour cherries. They're certainly not at my local farmer's market, and though it's been a few years since I've gotten up super early on a Saturday morning and made the half hour drive to Madison's huge farmer's market, I used to go every week with my mom, and I can't recall ever seeing them there, either. (Probably the market organizers prioritize local/Wisconsin farmers, and the cherries here are predominantly the sweet kind.) Now I will be on the lookout!

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Hi, Sarah! That’s probably the case. Here it’s mostly Michigan and Illinois farms, I think one from Indiana. Keep an eye out! 🍒 ps - I got a waffle iron that is really small, I’ll email you a pic as we begin “Teach me all the waffle things” week! 😂 🧇

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Oooh, please do!

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I just emailed a waffle iron to your substack email 🤣

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👍🧇

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We love cherry season in Montana. Though we don’t get sour cherries, the much awaited harvest of “Flathead” cherries from the orchards around lake is also celebrated with cobblers, crisps, and pies.

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Ooh, I’m googling now, thank you!

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Mouth watering! And crumbles (not pies!) are my go-tos in baking!

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Hi, Michelle! They are so quick and easy and delicious! What are your favorites? 🍒

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The crumble looks amazing and would be perfect to go with the cup of morning coffee that I'm consuming. You are lucky to have access to a farmer's market with such variety.

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Wish I could send you some right now, Vicki, to go with your coffee! And, yes, it really is wonderful, very lucky to have access 😊

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My mouth is watering from that cherry crumble picture, Jolene! I agree that good music helps pitting cherries go by more quickly (I did it by hand for a salad this week but I think I may need to invest in an actual pitter soon). Also can I join your granita-of-the-week club? 😆 We need all the refreshing drinks we can get in this heat!

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I keep reminding myself to get a pitter, and then always forget till I’m facing a quart of cherries 🍒

Yes, to joining the Granita-of-the-week club, Kiki! There are now exactly two of us! 🤣 I’m thinking pink grapefruit granita today, how about you? 🍨

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You know, your comment made me remember that I have some frozen passion fruit pulp hanging out in my freezer. Maybe a passion fruit granita is in order!

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Delicious!

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Cherry jam is one of my favorites for PB&J.

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I’m ordering some, Jackie — I was not a big PB&J fan as a kid, maybe I need a new jam! 😂 🍒

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