Maraschino cherries - Love 'em or Hate 'em?

Now, I know they are only vaguely related to fruit, or even food, for that matter, but I gotta tell ya when I was a little girl, they were a huge treat. We only got to have them on New Year's Eve, in a glass of ginger ale that we used to toast the New Year.

Last night, my best friend made a pineapple upside down cake, and put one in the center of each pineapple ring. When I laughed and told her nostalgically about what a treat they had been, she joined in because she had the exact NYE experience with them as a child!

We talked about how something that had symbolized adulthood to both of us was the ability to purchase soda and maraschino cherries anytime we wanted!

Discuss!

[Robin Garr]

I thought they were cool when I was 6.

Now I think they are not meant for human consumption.

Haven’t they been shown to be about as bad as cigarettes for causing cancer, at least in California?

What can I say? I like the little devils, particularly when they've been marinated for a good while in a manhattan.

I only like them after they have been swimming in a Southern Comfort Manhattan. My dad always let me have the ones out of his drink when I was a kid and that's what he always drank. Still does at 83 years young!

Like them in cocktails, pineapple upsidedown cake, and (fasten your seatbelts) in otherwise fresh fruit salad!

Those overly sweet, red things with the texture of chalk ??? They were the ultimate treat as a kid - right up there with pop - always in pineapple upside down cakes. Always makes me smile when I see them because it reminds me of "special" celebrations but I go out of my way to have the original Italian version - Marasco liquor and Amarenna cherries on hand to substitute instead.

[Jenise]

I only like them after they have been swimming in a Southern Comfort Manhattan. My dad always let me have the ones out of his drink when I was a kid and that's what he always drank. Still does at 83 years young!

Okay, my father's 85, but ditto ditto ditto. I also loved them in my Shirley Temples, which is what I got to drink at restaurants while Dad was enjoying his Southern Comfort Manhattan.

And a confession: such was my childhood lust for these that a few months ago, I bought a small jar just to see if they still tasted good. They did--I ate the whole jar in one sitting. Which was a lifetime's worth: now I don't care if I ever have another.

Yep, I always got Shirley Temples too. Can't believe all those years I had been drinking 7-UP and grenadine. Blech!

Jenise, I always thought we were long lost soul sisters. I mean, come on, how many other Dads did you know who drank SC Manhattans!

Haven’t they been shown to be about as bad as cigarettes for causing cancer, at least in California?

%^)

EVERYTHING supposedly causes cancer in California !

Clink !

%^)

[Jenise]

I mean, come on, how many other Dads did you know who drank SC Manhattans!

We have the only two I've ever heard of. Which begs the question (cue spooky music): is it really two different dads? Mine travelled a lot....

Don't leave ne alone with a jar because it will disappear. When I was a kid, I used to like to drink the sugar water they came in, too. In fact, I still do. At the wedding I attended on Saturday, there was an open bar and the barkeep had a glass full of the red dingers right out there. I think I embarrassed Zari because I kept filling my glass with them so I could nosh during all the nuptial preliminaries.

OMG, Gary just reminded me that my Dad also used to pour the juice over our vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Jenise, my Dad was home a lot--hardly ever traveled for business. I think we just have one of those parallel universe things going on. Remember the shared Cary Grant fixation?

Hate 'em. Period.

rwj

[Jenise]

OMG, Gary just reminded me that my Dad also used to pour the juice over our vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Jenise, my Dad was home a lot--hardly ever traveled for business. I think we just have one of those parallel universe things going on. Remember the shared Cary Grant fixation?

Ah, yes, our Cary. Did I ever tell you that I once knew someone well whose wedding Cary attended? Cary and the bride were friends, having become close after Dyan left (how could anyone leave Cary Grant?). SIGH. Is that one degree of separation or two?

And too bad it's not your father, because it would be nice to be sisters. On the other hand I wouldn't wish my father on anyone so I'm glad for you, thinking you had better.

Hen Jenise, here's another degree of separation re Cary Grant. I once sat next to him at a Magic Castle show! I think he was over 80 at that time and still very handsome, and his much younger wife was with him.
Ines

OMG, Gary just reminded me that my Dad also used to pour the juice over our vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Jenise, my Dad was home a lot--hardly ever traveled for business. I think we just have one of those parallel universe things going on. Remember the shared Cary Grant fixation?

Don't all women share a Cary Grant fixation?

[David M. Bueker]

I still like 'em on my ice cream sundaes.

Won't eat them any other way.

[Jenise]

Hen Jenise, here's another degree of separation re Cary Grant. I once sat next to him at a Magic Castle show! I think he was over 80 at that time and still very handsome, and his much younger wife was with him.
Ines

Lucky you to see him in person! I'm envious. Also, a friend of mine's husband was a magician and she mentioned seeing him there often--apparently Cary was quite the regular there.

Hen Jenise, here's another degree of separation re Cary Grant. I once sat next to him at a Magic Castle show! I think he was over 80 at that time and still very handsome, and his much younger wife was with him.
Ines

Lucky you to see him in person! I'm envious. Also, a friend of mine's husband was a magician and she mentioned seeing him there often--apparently Cary was quite the regular there.

Ah, yes, we need to talk about the trick I do with Maraschino cherry stems.

Hen Jenise, here's another degree of separation re Cary Grant. I once sat next to him at a Magic Castle show! I think he was over 80 at that time and still very handsome, and his much younger wife was with him.
Ines

Lucky you to see him in person! I'm envious. Also, a friend of mine's husband was a magician and she mentioned seeing him there often--apparently Cary was quite the regular there.

Ah, yes, we need to talk about the trick I do with Maraschino cherry stems.

I remember that I had a friend back in high school whose sister (who was quite a bit older and more experience than us) could do interesting things with those stems. Looking back, I should have spent more time with her...