Cherries

Harvested about five pounds of perfect little black cherries today from the old cherry tree we have up the hill. Probably 40 or 50 pounds left on the tree. I'll go back tomorrow, just a soon as I feel better from the couple of pounds I've just eaten.

Will youI freeze some whole, to enjoy over the winter? I have a large tray of Rainers in my freezer now. When frozen I will put the entire tray into a freezer bag, stem and all. When the munchies hit me in the dead of winter, there is nothing better than a frosty cherry. I used to freeze grapes like that. The kids loved those frozen treats>

The only thing I could think of doing with some of those cherries is soak them in brandy.

Salute

I am so jealous, Chef.
Last week our grocery store had a big sign in front of the cherries that read $4.99 (A smaller sign read, "Regular price, $5.99) The bags were all the same size, seemed smallish, but the cherries looked so good I put them in the cart. Well, when they got rung up, something like $11.79 flashed across the screen. I said "What?" The cashier said, "Yeah, this is over two pounds." (Damn pits.) I said, "They are $4.99 A POUND, not per bag?" Needless to say, I left them at the store.
The next day I was in the same store and looked closely at the sign again. This is what it looked like (except the LB was even smaller and in the far right corner of the sign, very much apart from the price)...

$4.99 LB

A few days ago, they were discounted even more ($1.97 lb) and the produce guy was putting fresh ones out, so I did finally buy them.

These are dark Bings and very tasty. The tree has been untended - looks like for decades, so they are small - but, damn they are numerous. Incidentally, the Bing cherry originates just a few miles from here in Milwaukie. They are named after a foreman on the Lewelling farm, Ah Bing. They're very good for you, too.

Oh, yeah, the Bings in the stores here are running between, $1.99 and $2.99 per pound.

[Jenise]

These are dark Bings and very tasty. The tree has been untended - looks like for decades, so they are small - but, damn they are numerous. Incidentally, the Bing cherry originates just a few miles from here in Milwaukie. They are named after a foreman on the Lewelling farm, Ah Bing. They're very good for you, too.

Oh, yeah, the Bings in the stores here are running between, $1.99 and $2.99 per pound.

In California, Bing were always large and meaty. Up here, I've had some Wenatchee Bings that were small, very black, and though less meaty what meat there was was denser, crunchier, and more intensely flavored. I'd take those over the supermarket-perfect California bings any day of the week! Everyone here should be deeply envious of your tree.