Cherry Cream Cheese

Make your own flavored cream cheese by stirring in fresh, in-season cherries. We like the flavor of black cherries, but any kind will work. Spread this on your morning bagel or sandwich it between graham crackers for a cherry cheesecake-inspired snack.

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pitted fresh cherries or thawed and drained frozen cherries
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
  • Pinch of ground allspice

Directions

Combine cream cheese, cherries, sugar and allspice in a small bowl.

Other Info

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Nutrition
Per 2-tablespoon serving: 65 calories; 5 g fat ( 3 g sat , 1 g mono ); 17 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrates;1 g added sugars; 2 g protein; 0 g fiber; 76 mg sodium; 52 mg potassium.

From EatingWell: May/June 2010

 

Creamy Cherry Jello

Ingredients

  • 2 cups unsweetened 100% black cherry juice, divided
  • 1 envelope unflavored gelatin (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
  • 1-2 tablespoons superfine sugar (see Note)
  • 1 6-ounce container (2/3 cup) nonfat cherry or vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup halved or chopped pitted fresh cherries or thawed and drained frozen cherries

Directions

Place 1/2 cup cherry juice in a medium bowl. Sprinkle gelatin on top and let stand for 1 minute. Bring the remaining 1 1/2 cups cherry juice to a boil in a small saucepan. Add to the gelatin mixture along with sugar to taste and whisk until the gelatin is dissolved. Whisk in yogurt until combined. Divide among 4 small dishes or ramekins. Stir 1/4 cup cherries into each portion. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.

Other Info

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Note: Superfine sugar dissolves instantly in liquid. It is commonly available in the baking section of most supermarkets, but if you can’t find it, simply process regular granulated sugar in a food processor or clean coffee grinder until very fine.

Nutrition Per serving: 133 calories; 0 g fat ( 0 g sat , 0 g mono ); 1 mg cholesterol; 30 g carbohydrates; 5 g added sugars; 3 g protein; 1 g fiber; 29 mg sodium; 296 mg potassium.

From EatingWell: May/June 2010

 

Cherry-N-Cream Frozen Pops

Opt for a cherry pop for a refreshing warm-weather treat. 

Ingredients

1 8-ounce container low fat vanilla-flavored yogurt 
1/2 cup finely chopped, frozen tart cherries 
1/4 cup 100% tart cherry juice 
1 tablespoon honey 
6 2-ounce frozen pop molds with handles

Directions

Stir together yogurt, cherries, juice and honey in small bowl. For easier chopping, chop cherries while still frozen. 

Spoon yogurt mixture into 2-ounce freezer pop molds and insert handles. (If using paper cups, spoon mixture into cups and cover each with foil. 

Cut a small hole in center of each foil top and insert a pop stick.) Freeze about 6 hours or until firm. 

Other Info

Makes 5 or 6 frozen pops.

Nutrition Facts per pop: 76 calories, 1 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 15 g carbohydrate, 4 mg cholesterol, 2 g protein, 0 g fiber, 31 mg sodium; Daily Values: 6% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 8% calcium, 0% iron

Recipe from http://www.choosecherries.com/

Cherry Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Ingredients

2 cups Northwest fresh sweet cherries, pitted
1 small fresh pineapple, pared and cut into spears
1 grapefruit, peeled and cut into segments
1 orange, peeled and cut into segments
1/2 small honeydew melon, pared and cut into spears
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
Orange Yogurt Dressing

Directions

Arrange cherries, pineapple, grapefruit, orange and melon on serving dish; sprinkle with almonds. Serve with Orange Yogurt Dressing.

Other Info

Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Analysis Per Serving: 233 Cal., 5.3 g pro., 7.0 g. fat (25% Cal. from fat), 42.1 g carb., 3.0 mg chol, 4.6 fiber and 28 mg sodium.