HEIGH-HO CHERRY-OH!

This week has been one of those one step forward, two steps back kind of weeks.  On Saturday I took a jaunt through the farmer's market and was mesmerized by the beautiful cherries.  They cost a king's ransom, but after viewing all of your blogs, I was craving cherries  in the worst way.  So many wonderful recipes out there!  I had every intention of making Montmorency  cherry squares but when I got home I thought better of it.  Jamie only eats sweets that have chocolate and peanut butter in them, so I knew if I made them, I would be eating the better part of the tray myself.  So I decided to make cherry jam instead.  I just made it the same way I made the strawberry preserves but boiled it for a bit less.  Seems sour cherries have more pectin in them.  Turned out lovely and I was anticipating a piece of toast with the jam on it once the clean-up was finished. Isn't toast wonderful?  By scraping the pot, I was able to eke out just a dab to keep.  Anticipation.  Opened the refrigerator door and out jumped the jam and the lovely antique spongeware custard cup holding it with it.  I don't know what upset me more, the broken custard cup or the lost jam.

Well, now my craving was not abated so I uncovered a can of cherry pie filling that had been shoved to the back of the pantry and made the squares anyhow.  And you know what?  They tasted just as good as they do when I make the filling from scratch.  And a lot less dithering with pitting cherries to boot!   BTW, Montmorency Squares are simply  a pie crust fitted into a small rectangular pan with a layer of cherry pie filling, then another layer of pie crust,baked at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Then glazed with a nice almond flavored icing.  

Also spent a good amount of the last couple of days  picking and shelling peas.  I had a huge trayfull dried and was certain the were dry when I placed them in the jar, but just to be certain I left the lid off.  After a couple of days I put the lid on and thought no more about it.  I glanced over to the jar as I passed it and noticed that the jar was covered in mold.  In just one hour!  The humidity has been ghastly lately.  All those lovely peas wasted!  All that time!  Well, you live and you learn.  Glad I canned some of them.

Here's a closer look at the bouquet.  All the flowers were growing in the hedgerow.  I never can bring myself to pick flowers that I plant. But I'm always blessed with some of the prettiest orphans.