February is Cherry Month - Here's A Recipe!

February is cherry month, so we are posting this cherry growers information press release, which includes a cherry buttermilk scones recipe! All content released below (except photo)is responsibility of the Wisconsin Cherry Growers! Eat well!


___________________________

PRESS RELEASE

Contact Info:
Wisconsin Cherry Growers
Norb Grenchik
(920) 421-1032

FEBRUARY IS CHERRY MONTH

February is National Cherry Month and although summer is fresh cherry season, canned cherries, frozen cherries and cherry juice, preserved at the peak of goodness, are all available year-round for use in favorite cold weather recipes. Tart cherries, such as the Montmorency found in orchards across Door County, can be used in a variety of mouth-watering recipes right now during the deep freeze of winter.

Dried cherries, a relatively new cherry product, are tasty as a snack, wonderful in salads, and increasingly popular in recipes for everything from appetizers to entrees and desserts. Dried cherries, cherry juice, cherry jam, cherry jelly, and a variety of fresh and frozen cherry pies, cakes and pastries can be found at the market any time of year.

Along with being delicious, fresh, frozen, canned or dried tart cherries offer amazing health benefits. Cherries are a great source of vitamins and minerals for the winter season. According to ongoing research, cherries contain high levels of powerful antioxidants that can reduce the risk of heart attacks and help fight cancer. Cherries also contain anti-inflammatory compounds that may also help relieve the pain of headaches and arthritis.

Antioxidants are the big buzzword in nutrition these days, but experts suggest you should look to buy yours in the grocery store instead of the health food store. A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that antioxidant supplements do not significantly reduce mortality. In fact, betacarotene, vitamin A and vitamin E supplements may actually increase the risk of death. The authors conclude that it's best to get antioxidants and nutrients from food sources. Tart cherries contain among the highest level of antioxidants compared to other fruits and are a natural source of vitamin A (beta carotene) and fiber.

Ellie Krieger, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian specializing in nutrition and health communications and author of Small Changes, Big Results (Clarkson Potter, February 2005). She also is the host of the Food Network's Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger and is a regular contributor to nutrition columns in major women's and parenting magazines.

"As a dietitian, I'm a big proponent of foods that can help you live healthier and feel better, which is why I love cherries. Cherries are not only rich in several vitamins, but they are an antioxidant powerhouse. Because they are available year-round in a variety of forms, including dried, frozen or juice, tart cherries are a delicious, convenient way to add more disease-fighting compounds to your diet everyday throughout the year. Including cherries in your diet may be especially important for older adults as studies show that tart cherries may offer protection from age-related diseases, such as arthritis and gout.”

“Best of all, incorporating cherries into your diet is easy. Substitute anything you currently make with berries, from topping your cereal or salad with dried cherries, baking or making yogurt parfaits with frozen cherries. Or, substitute your regular juice by mixing cherry juice into a smoothie once a day."

Here are a few more ways you can include this new "Super Fruit" in your daily routine.

Grab and Go – Get your antioxidants on-the-go with an easy "do-it-yourself" trail mix using dried cherries, almonds and whole-grain cereal. Or add dried cherries to ready-made granola.
Brighten up Breakfast – Swap your typical berries for dried cherries and add them to your cereal, oatmeal, yogurt or pancakes. Just a cup of dried tart cherries gives you one whole serving of fruit!
Make Salads Sensational – Add dried cherries to tossed salads, fruit salads and chicken salads for added taste and nutrition.
Switch from Blue to Red – Make a change from your standard blueberry muffin recipe and use dried or frozen cherries instead. Visit www.choosecherries.com for delicious cherry muffin recipes.
Straight from the Bag – Keep a stash of dried cherries on hand for an antioxidant-rich snack break. Buy single-serve packages or portion out those bought in bulk to keep in your purse, desk or gym bag.
C is for Cookie... and Cherries – Enjoy a new twist on the standard oatmeal raisin cookie by using dried cherries instead of raisins.
Greater Grains – Add dried cherries to couscous, rice pilaf, grits, risotto and pasta.
Be Smooth – Blend frozen cherries with cherry juice concentrate and lowfat yogurt. Add a straw and you have a sensational smoothie for breakfast or a snack.
A Perfect Parfait – Keep a bag of frozen cherries in the freezer and grab a handful when hunger strikes. Thaw them for a few minutes and then layer with lowfat vanilla yogurt and granola.
Fruit Fizz – Make a refreshing cherry spritzer by adding cherry juice concentrate to ice cold seltzer water – a refreshing treat or party beverage.
Mix it Up – Look for cherry juice blends, like cherry apple juice. Or, make your own blend and combine ready-to-drink 100% cherry juice with another juice favorite.
Juice on the Run – Grab a single-serve bottle of 100% cherry juice or fill a water bottle with diluted cherry juice concentrate as you head out to the gym. Some research suggests cherry juice may help reduce exercise-related joint pain!

Unlike their fresh cousins that show up only during the summer, tart cherries are available every month of the year. Dried and frozen tart cherries, as well as cherry juice (or juice concentrate) can be found year-round at several regional cherry producers. Cherry growers who offer these products year-round are listed below. Many cherry products can even be ordered from the comfort of your own home via these businesses websites.

Bea’s Ho-Made Products
763 Hwy 42, Ellison Bay
Ph: 920-854-2268
www.beashomadeproducts.com

Cherryland’s Best
W2751 Fullview Drive, Appleton
Ph: 920-687-1440
www.cherrylandsbest.com

Country Ovens, Ltd.
29 East Main, Forestville
Ph: 920-856-6767
www.countryovens.com

Hyline Orchards Farm Market
8429 Hwy 42, Fish Creek
Ph: 920-868-3067
www.hylineorchardfarmmarket.com

Orchard Country Winery & Market
9197 Hwy 42 (1/2 mi. S.) Fish Creek
Ph: 920-868-3479
www.orchardcountry.com

Wienke’s Market
292 Hwy “S” North Algoma
Ph: 920-487-5722
www.wienkes.com

For more information on Door County Cherries, including a map of growers, Cherry Ambassador Information and favorite local cherry recipes visit the Wisconsin Cherry Growers website at www.wisconsincherries.org.

_________________




Side Bar Recipe:

Cherry Buttermilk Scones
Scones are best freshly baked and straight from the oven.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 

1/2 cup oatmeal 
1/3 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon sugar, divided 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 

3/4 cup dried tart cherries, finely chopped 

1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk 

3 large eggs, divided (2 for scone batter; 1 for egg wash) 

Additional flour for cutting scones, etc.

Directions: 
Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the dried cherries. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and two of the eggs. Add liquid mixture to dry mixture, stirring just until moist (dough will be soft and sticky). Allow dough to rest for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare egg wash. Flour surface for forming scones. Turn out dough and knead two to three times. Dough will be very soft. Divide dough in half. Roll each piece of dough into a 5-inch circle about 3/4 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut each round into 8 pie-shaped wedges. Using a metal spatula, carefully transfer wedges onto a cookie sheet, arranging so that wedges are not touching. They should be at least 1 1/2 inches apart. In a small bowl, whisk remaining egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Brush a very light coat of egg wash onto the top of each scone; sprinkle tops of scones with remaining tablespoon of sugar, and bake for about 13 minutes, or until the tops are lightly browned and the insides are fully baked. The scones will be firm to the touch. Serve warm. 

Makes 16 scones

Nutrition Info:
Calories 142, Total Fat g 4, Sat Fat g 2, Chol mg 34, Sodium mg 191, Total Carb g 24, Fiber g 2 ,Sugars g 8, Protein g 3