Alright, alright, let’s talk about them dried cherries, the little red jewels I sometimes throw in my sweets. You know, the kind you find in them bags at the store? Yeah, them. They’re good for more than just snackin’, I tell ya. We can make some real nice desserts with ’em, the kind that’ll make your mouth water and your belly happy.
First off, let’s talk about cookies. Cookies with dried cherries are just plain good. I ain’t a baker or nothin’, but even I can whip these up. You just mix up your regular cookie dough – you know, flour, sugar, butter, eggs, the usual stuff – and then you toss in a handful or two of them dried cherries. Chop ‘em up a bit if they’re too big, but I like ‘em whole sometimes. Bake ‘em till they’re golden brown and there you have it – chewy, sweet cookies with a little bit of tartness from the cherries. Kids love ‘em, grandkids love ‘em, and heck, even old folks like me can’t get enough.
- Make ‘em chewy: Don’t overbake them cookies! You want ‘em soft and chewy, not hard as rocks.
- Add some nuts: If you’re feeling fancy, throw in some chopped nuts too. Walnuts, pecans, whatever you got on hand.
Now, if you’re lookin’ for somethin’ a bit fancier, we can talk about cakes. A simple cake with dried cherries is mighty fine. You can add them dried cherries to just about any cake batter. I like to put them in them yellow cakes, you know, the ones that are all light and fluffy? The cherries sink down a bit when you’re baking, makes the bottom of the cake all moist and fruity.
And don’t forget about muffins! Muffins with dried cherries are perfect for breakfast or a snack. Just like with the cookies and cakes, you just mix the dried cherries into your regular muffin batter. They add a nice little burst of flavor and make ‘em extra special. I like to add a bit of cinnamon too, makes ‘em smell real nice when they’re bakin’.
Oh, and here’s another thing I learned from that cooking show on the TV – you can even use them dried cherries in them…what do you call ‘em…scones? Yeah, scones with dried cherries. I never made them before, but they looked real good on the TV. They said you gotta mix ‘em up real gentle, don’t want ‘em to be tough. And you can add a little bit of orange zest too, makes ‘em real bright and zingy.
And speaking of breakfast, have you ever tried putting dried cherries in your oatmeal? Oh, it’s good, I tell ya. Just cook up your oatmeal like you always do, and then stir in a handful of dried cherries at the end. They plump up real nice and add a little sweetness and chewiness to your breakfast. Keeps you goin’ all mornin’ long, it does. Oatmeal with dried cherries, it’s a good thing.
But you know, you don’t always gotta bake with them dried cherries. Sometimes, I just toss a handful into a bowl of yogurt or cottage cheese. It’s a quick and easy snack, and it’s good for ya too. And if I’m feeling real fancy, I’ll sprinkle a few on top of some ice cream. Vanilla ice cream with dried cherries, now that’s a treat! You can even add a little bit of chocolate sauce if you’re feelin’ extra naughty.
Now, some folks say them dried cherries can get a bit dry when you bake with ‘em. So, if you want, you can soak ‘em in a little bit of hot water for a few minutes before you add them to your batter. Makes ‘em plump up real nice and juicy. Or, you can even soak ‘em in a little bit of somethin’ stronger, like brandy or rum, if you’re makin’ somethin’ for the grown-ups. Heh, that’ll warm you up on a cold night. Soaking dried cherries before baking makes them even more special.
So there you have it, a whole bunch of ways to use them dried cherries in your desserts. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little, try different things, see what you like. And don’t worry if it ain’t perfect, long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters. Now go on and get yourself some dried cherries and start bakin’! Your family will thank you for it.
Dried cherries ain’t just for snackin’, remember that. They can make your desserts extra special, give ‘em a little bit of somethin’ somethin’. And that’s a good thing, I tell ya, a real good thing.
