Pbenjay's Blog

I mean really, sometimes it seems as if the only association we have to cherries is to remember that you shouldn’t lie and to prove it George Washington chopped down a cherry tree.  NO, no, that’s wrong.   Let’s see  now, don’t lie and so George didn’t and then he cut down the cherry tree -Wrong!  He chopped down the tree, told a lie and we made him President.  No, no I think that was another liar named George we made President!  Oh Lordy this is really getting far afield isn’t it?

CHERRIES !!!

I think that Cherries don’t get a fair shake in the fruit world.  Look at Strawberries for instance.   What a public relations firm they must have hired!  There are Strawberry Festivals and Strawberry Fairs.  People go Strawberry Picking as soon as the season opens.   Even before they’re really in season there’s a big to do about them because rhubarb is ripe in the early spring and then it’s all about Strawberry Rhubarb pie and jam.  Everyone knows that Strawberry Shortcake IS THE dessert to serve during the summer

Strawberry Shortcake

and it’s always the highlight dessert for the Fourth of July holiday.  And let’s not forget, we put Strawberries in our cereal and in our trifles and pies.  Brides have Strawberry Cream Cakes at their wedding.  Kids love Strawberry Ice Cream! It doesn’t stop there – Nestle’s thought they could expand their milk based consumers by introducing Strawberry Quik in the 1950’s,

Strawberry Quik

Fluff made a Strawberry Marshmallow spread

Strawberry Fluff

and then American Greeting Cards always playing second fiddle to Hallmark, found a way to topple the Gold Crown – Strawberry Shortcake greeting cards.  She was (and is) an adorable red head with ringlets, freckle-faced sweetie pie!  From the shelves of greeting cards, Strawberry Shortcake sprung into action!  She became a doll in various sizes – she even smelled of strawberries!!!  Then there were costumes, doll clothes, doll houses, doll carriers, tee shirts, pajama and nightgowns, dishes, aprons, bibs, cups and glasses, lunch boxes,  pretend make-up, cologne, lip gloss, balloons, a bake shoppe, carousel, coloring books, … AND it that wasn’t enough, the array of siblings, cousins and friends that came along such as Apple Dumplin, Orange Blossom and Ginger Snap, was HUGE.  She practically had her own Strawberry Shortcake Village.

Strawberry Shortcake

And  CHERRIES??? A mere smidgen of recognition goes to this delicious, sweet, sensual, tart, crisp, delectable, delightful fruit!  They’re appearing now in the Green Markets, fruit stands and grocery stores – BUT. hey if you didn’t notice them on the shelves when you were shopping, would you know they’re in season?  No, of course not – it’s not announced, there’s no big deal made about the heralding of the Cherry season.   I don’t know why but maybe that’s good, it might keep the prices down.

Cherries do get some publicity but not the right kind.  There’s the GW connection and in February everybody has one slice of  cherry pie and that’s it for the year because what they just ate was sickening sweet, syrupy, bright artificially red and loaded with cornstarch. came out of a can and probably had a soggy bottom crust too.  Now that sounds appetizing doesn’t it?  And let’s not overlook Maraschino Cherries – talk about artificial coloring!  RED DYE #2!!! You can find Cherry jam in the grocery stores but you won’t find it in the little packets of jellies and jams in the diners, coffee shops and hotels.  However, there is one product that absolutely pays homage to this yummy fruit – you guessed it…Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream! YES!

Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

What brought this Strawberry-Cherry blog on?  Tonight for dessert I had a bowl of cold, succulent Cherries – each one sweet at the first bite and the last and I wondered why such a fruit would take a backseat to the likes of strawberries which are delicious of course,  but enough is enough!!