18 Pounds of Cherries!

There's just something about getting a lot of fresh fruit and spending hours prepping it to be cooked or canned. It was a big part of my childhood, and it made a big impression. I have dreams all the time about Gram's house- the heat of the kitchen and the endlessness of the back yard with all of its fruit trees & vines, turning the gardens in the spring or picking fruit and veggies in the summer with Uncle Joe. It was the biggest yard in the neighborhood, and it was paradise. I'm sure when I die it's we're I'll be.

Back to Oakland, where yards are few and far between but fruit and veggies are plentiful at the markets... In Chinatown yesterday, cherries were about 89 cents a pound. One of our favorite shops was selling them by the case even cheaper! Knowing what was going through my head, Jess wasn't too thrilled about the idea, but 18 pounds of fresh Washington cherries for 12 bucks?! Even though she was refusing to help with getting them canned, I couldn't help myself...

Last night I pitted a few quarts worth, then prepped them in syrup made from honey from my hives and a bottle Steve and Angie McDaniel gave us as a going away present (Steve was our wedding photographer and is also the Maryland State Beekeeping Association's President... he and his wife Angie are dear friends of ours... and he's partly to blame for my getting into beekeeping).

It took all night, and there were still about 6 quarts left to be pitted and jarred! This morning, even though she didn' t help, I made Jess some french toast with preserved cherries on top. TASTY STUFF!!!

So after we got home this afternoon from our friend Susan's granddaughter Daisy's birthday party (she's three!)...

...I recruited Steve from upstairs to assist with the task. It was a sly move - I gave him a jar of cherries first, and then asked if he'd be interested in helping out! We chatted a bit and got them done within about 20 minutes (not without some splattering, which I'd warned him against).

The fruits of our labor...

So, since I gave away most of my canning jars before heading West, I'm now trying to find new jars through Freecycle. If that doesn't pan out I might be heading to the store tomorrow. Meanwhile, while enjoying some chocolate ice cream with cherry preserves on top, I put ads on Craigslist and Freecycle asking for jars in return for a jar of cherries! A great way to finish off a great weekend...