What to do with cherries

Last weekend we went to the Emmett cherry Festival.  It was about a 30min drive from our home.  The weather was good and I heard that they had a really good crop this year and there would be plenty of cherries for everyone. I was planning to buy a cherry pie for Mike. It was the day before Father's Day and cherry pie is his favorite.  I was dreaming of all things cherry while we were driving out there. 

I was a little disappointed when we got there.  Looking around at classic cars, going to a quilt show, and checking out the mini train village was all fun, but where were the cherries?  There were rides for the kids, and all kinds of fair food for the hungry people, but where were the cherries?  We only saw one stand selling cups of cherries.  No cherry pies for Mike.  

   
We left all the crazy fun behind and headed to the orchard.  They were selling u-pick for $1.50 per pound.  Mike had great fun picking them and we got plenty of cherries.  

This is what we did with our cherries.

1. We gave some to our friends

2. Our sister-in-law makes the best ice cream in the world.  So we gave her some cherries and fresh eggs from our chickens. 

3. I found a cherry chocolate blondie recipe and it was the most amazing thing.  It was so good I made them two days in a row.  

4. Mike makes some great shakes.  We had cherry shakes last night and it was better than any store bought ones.  I pitted the cherries and measured 2 cups in each bag for future shakes.

5.We love to hike and go backpacking.  When we go we usually take some sort of dry fruits with us. I dried some cherries the old fashioned way.  We do not own a dehydrator. I knew I could use my oven to dry them but I didn't want to heat up the house.  I just left them on my picnic table with cheese cloths on it.  It was done in three days. 

6.It is not cherry pie but I did make cherry crisps for a Father's Day dessert. I served them with a scoop of ice cream.    

 Going to the Emmett cherry festival was a one time thing for me.  I checked it out and don't need to go again.  But I am sure I will go back to the orchard next year for the cherries.  They were delicious to eat fresh and who knows, maybe I will learn how to bake a cherry pie.