Weekend Gourmet: Mon cheri!

You know summer is here when markets are filled with cherries…deep dark red and juicy. So what better way to welcome you to the first edition of Weekend Gourmet than by showcasing some gorgeous cherry recipes. First up is a mouth watering Cherry Jam with Lemon Pepper Shortbread from Dolcetto Confections. The combination of sweet cherry jam with crisp lemon and pepper flavored shortbread sounds divine. I love the look of the delicate little shortbread rounds topped with the beautifully colored jam.

Nothing beats a Classic Cherry Pie, and Camilla over at Food Republik has a scrumptious recipe that I will have to try out. My favorite way to eat cherry pie is when it’s still warm and the juice from the fruit is all nicely caramelized…and of course, with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Ah, summer!

Andrea over at Bella Eats features beautiful photos from a cherry orchard and a fantastic Bread Salad with a twist – instead of the usual tomatoes she uses cherries.  Bold arugula is paired with sweet cherries, creamy goat cheese, crunchy croutons, and a simple dressing with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. What a lovely idea for a light lunch or dinner!

Forget about store bought ice cream! Elle from Elle’s New England Kitchen has made what has got to be the most irresistible cherry ice cream ever – Pistachio Praline Cherry Ice Cream. The name alone is sublime, but this ice cream is truly gourmet and so creative. The base is made with a divine pistachio praline paste, and the ice cream is loaded full of cherries and pistachios.

And for the grand finale – Chocolate Cherry Molten Cakes With Glazed Fresh Cherries from The Tasty Bits. This one pretty much speaks for itself, and I can hardly contain myself at the thought of these warm little cakes, oozing chocolate and topped with cherries that have been glazed with cherry liqueur…

So get your aprons out and start cooking. Happy weekend!