Cherry Recipes for Cherry Concentrate

Frozen Tart Cherries -- Add 1/2 Cup or more, thawed and drained, to Smoothies or Shakes
Fruit Crisp and Cobbler Recipes
Fruit Salsas (great for fish and poultry)
Chop and mix with 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef for burgers or meatloaf

Dried Tart Cherries -- Add1/4 Cup or more to:Green Garden Salads
Vinaigrette Coleslaw
Trail Mix Snacks
Oatmeal or Dry Cereal
Muffin and Cookie recipes

Cherry-Oat Cookies
A healthy and tasty treat that even the kids will love!

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dried tart cherries
3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

Mix together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flax seed meal, baking powder, salt and oats. Set aside.

Mix butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; mix well. Stir in dried cherries and chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet (or line cookie sheets with parchment baking paper). Bake in a preheated 350º oven 9 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 1 minute, then transfer cookies to wire baking racks to cool.

Makes approximately 48 cookies.

Nutrition Facts per Cookie: 98 Calories, 4.5 g Total Fat (2 g Saturated Fat), 13 mg Cholesterol, 67 mg Sodium, 14 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Fiber, 1 g Protein.

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 fat Cherry-Oat Cookies
A healthy and tasty treat that even the kids will love!

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dried tart cherries
3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

Mix together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flax seed meal, baking powder, salt and oats. Set aside.

Mix butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; mix well. Stir in dried cherries and chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet (or line cookie sheets with parchment baking paper). Bake in a preheated 350º oven 9 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 1 minute, then transfer cookies to wire baking racks to cool.

Makes approximately 48 cookies.

Nutrition Facts per Cookie: 98 Calories, 4.5 g Total Fat (2 g Saturated Fat), 13 mg Cholesterol, 67 mg Sodium, 14 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Fiber, 1 g Protein.

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 fat Cherry-Oat Cookies
A healthy and tasty treat that even the kids will love!

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dried tart cherries
3/4 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips

Mix together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flax seed meal, baking powder, salt and oats. Set aside.

Mix butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; mix well. Stir in dried cherries and chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet (or line cookie sheets with parchment baking paper). Bake in a preheated 350º oven 9 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand 1 minute, then transfer cookies to wire baking racks to cool.

Makes approximately 48 cookies.

Nutrition Facts per Cookie: 98 Calories, 4.5 g Total Fat (2 g Saturated Fat), 13 mg Cholesterol, 67 mg Sodium, 14 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Fiber, 1 g Protein.

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 fat

Cherry Tofu Smoothie
This smoothie makes a great quick and easy breakfast or other meal replacement or snack.

2 cups frozen tart cherries, thawed and drained, or 1 (16-ounce) can tart cherries, drained
1 (12.3-ounce) package light silken tofu, cut up
3/4 cup 100% ready-to-drink tart cherry juice
2 tablespoons honey
9 frozen or canned tart cherries, for garnish (optional)

In a blender container, combine 2 cups cherries, tofu, cherry juice and honey. Cover; blend until smooth. Pour into 3 glasses. If desired, thread 3 cherries on each of three 6-inch bamboo skewers. Use to garnish beverages. Serve immediately.

Makes 3 (1 cup) servings.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: 187 Calories, 1 g Total Fat (0 g Saturated Fat), 0 mg Cholesterol, 132 mg Sodium, 36 g Carbohydrate, 1.5 g Fiber, 9 g Protein.

Exchanges: 2 fruit, 1 1/2 very lean meat

Caramelized Salmon with Cherry Salsa
This recipe combines tart cherries with omega-3 rich salmon; a winning combination for reducing pain related to inflammation.

1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen salmon with skin
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 ripe mango or papaya, seeded, peeled and chopped
1 cup frozen tart cherries, thawed, drained, and halved (or 1/2 cup dried tart cherries)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, basil or cilantro
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Thaw fish, if frozen. Stir together brown sugar, orange peel and pepper. Place fish, skin side down, in a shallow pan. Rub sugar mixture over fish. Cover and refrigerate 2 to 8 hours.

Remove fish from pan, draining off any juices. Place salmon, skin-side down, on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill 4 to 6 inches from medium-hot coals. Grill for 20 to 25 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Do not turn fish.

Meanwhile, toss together mango or papaya, cherries, mint, vinegar and red pepper. Spoon fruit salsa over warm fish. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: 326 Calories, 11 g Total Fat (2 g Saturated Fat), 93 mg Cholesterol, 87 mg Sodium, 21 g Carbohydrates, 1.5 g Fiber, 34.5 g Protein.

Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1 1/2 fruit.