Summer Share Eight July 14th/16th 2020

Important information:

• This is a weekly share only.
• My apology to new members for not clarifying that fruit shares come in a separate box; the one with the yellow and red peppers! Please return these boxes also. Please contact us if you thought you enrolled and do not see your name on the distribution sheet.

Farm News from Jane
Beans, beans, the magical fruit. Unfortunately, the first two plantings of beans were not magical and did not grow to enormous size… Perhaps next week there may be enough mature beans to harvest. But someone peeked at the potatoes and some are as big as your fist! So, we will have new red potatoes for shares next week. We also started the great garlic harvest! We grow quite a large planting for both summer and winter shares. Timeliness is very important when harvesting garlic. The bulbs need to be mature but not overly so as the “papers” begin to break down and endanger the bulb from staying on the stalk when pulling. We harvested quite a large section today with lots of happy helpful hands. It looked and smelled wonderful; we are so grateful for a beautiful crop! The summer squash is growing quite quickly and has even been picked twice one day.
The rains have been great! We recorded over 2 inches on Saturday and just today added a few more showers to keep the soil moist the growing plants happy. For some, like the Romaine and other lettuces and perhaps the celery it may be too late. But we’ll seed another crop of celery for the fall harvest and more lettuces and be happy to watch them thrive growing in the cooler weather. And talking about cooler weather, we are so glad to have a short reprieve from the ninety-degree days of last week. It does look like it will heat up by week’s end but that may bring the sweet corn to maturity a few days sooner. So, yeah for the heat and the rain!!!
Enjoy the week and the harvest and don’t forget to say a “thank-you for the rains… Blessings, Jane

Produce:   Cucumbers   Green onions   Bell pepper   Red beets
Summer squash   Salad greens   Swiss chard

Next week: Red potatoes; and sweet corn is not far behind!

Fruit Share:      Dark and Light Sweet cherries – Please do wash your cherries, they are not organic.

Produce tips:
– The first of the Bell peppers; just one to start. They had blossomed in the greenhouse before we could even set them outside! So, we picked all the first fruit set and now that it has cooled down perhaps, they will send out another set of blossoms… They need timely rain showers or irrigation so that they do not “drop” their blossoms.
– Don’t forget to try grilling your beets this week! They caramelize and are even sweeter and more mellow!

Recipes
DIJON ROASTED BEETS
3 lbs. beets, uniform in size (about 2 inches); 4 Tbsp olive oil, divided; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard; Juice of one orange; 1 tsp sugar; 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 Tbsp fresh minced rosemary
Trim beets of all but 1/2-inch stem and root. Place beets in roasting pan; add 1 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast at 400 degrees 45 minutes or until beets are tender. Whisk mustard, orange juice, sugar, and vinegar in bowl. Whisk in remaining 3 Tbsp olive oil and rosemary. Set aside. When beets are cool enough to handle, rub to remove skin cut into quarters. Add warm beets to bowl and toss with dressing. Let stand 30 minutes while beets absorb dressing. Makes 8 servings

SECRET CHOCOLATE CAKE (CHOCOLATE BEET CAKE)
2 C. cooked chopped beets, ½ c. applesauce, 1+1/2 c. sugar, ½ c. oil, ½ c. plain yogurt, 3 eggs, 1+1/2 t. vanilla, 1+1/2 c. flour, 1 c. whole wheat flour, ½ c. baking cocoa, 1+1/2 t. baking soda, ½ t. salt, ½ c. chocolate chips (I prefer mini chips), powdered sugar or your favorite glaze or frosting

Prepare beets by cooking, peeling, and chopping them. Combine with applesauce and puree with a hand blender or in a standing blender. Set aside. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. Beat together the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. For 2 minutes. Add half the dry ingredients and incorporate slowly, alternating with the beet/applesauce mixture until everything is blended. Pour half the batter into greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips, then pour the remaining batter on top. Bake @ 350⁰ for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in pan on rack.
From Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook by Mark Beach & Julie Kauffman

SAVORY BEET SOUP
1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, 2 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 3 medium beets, peeled and halved, 1 medium potato, peeled and halved crosswise, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 8 tsps. reduced-fat sour cream
Preparation: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and next 6 ingredients (through bay leaf). Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes or until beets and potato are tender. Discard bay leaf. Place one-third broth mixture in blender or food processor; process until smooth. Place puréed mixture in a large bowl. Repeat procedure twice with remaining broth mixture. Return pureed mixture to pan. Warm soup over low heat for 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Combine 1/2 cup soup and the sour cream, stirring with a whisk. Divide soup evenly among each of 8 bowls. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream mixture; swirl sour cream mixture using the tip of a knife. Recipe from: Kathryn Conrad, Cooking Light OCTOBER 2004

QUICK BEET SALAD¼ C sour cream, 1T horseradish, 1T chopped fresh dill, 2t olive plus 1T live oil divided, ¼ t ground pepper, 1/8 t salt, 1# precooked beets cut into ¼ “slices or wedges, 1t white wine vinegar
Combine sour cream, horse radish, dill, 2 t oil, pepper, and salt in a small bowl. Toss beets with vinegar and the remaining 1T oil. Serve the beets topped with the sauce. Recipe from Eating Well magazine

 

SWEET AND SOUR BEETS IN WHITE WINE

1/3 c. plus 1 tbsp. cider vinegar, 1/3 c. water, 1/3 c. sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch, Dash of ground cloves, 2 tbsp. dry white wine, 1/2 tsp. butter, 2 c. cooked, sliced beets

In a medium saucepan, combine the first 5 ingredients. Cook over a medium heat until the mixture thickens. Add beets, wine, butter and heat thoroughly. Remove from heat and let stand at least 30 minutes. Reheat just before serving. Recipe form Cook.com

ROASTED BEETS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE RECIPE
2 # red beets, medium sized, scrubbed clean, Olive oil, Salt, 1/2 c balsamic vinegar, 2 t sugar, 1 t grated orange zest, freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400°F and line pan with aluminum foil.  Rub beets with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, place in pan, cover with foil: Place the beets in the pan. Rub olive oil over the beets, and sprinkle with salt. Cover the beets with another sheet of aluminum foil. Roast for 1 to 2 hours: Roast for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the beets and how old they are. After 1 hour, test every fifteen minutes by poking a beet with the tines of a fork. Once the fork tines go in easily, the beets are tender and cooked. Remove from the oven.
Prepare balsamic glaze: While the beets are cooling, prepare the balsamic glaze. In a small, shallow sauté pan, add the balsamic vinegar and sugar. Heat on high until the vinegar has reduced to a syrup consistency. Remove from heat. Peel and cut cooked beets: After the beets have cooled for several minutes, but are still warm to the touch, peel off the outer skins and discard. Cut the beets into quarters or more, bite-sized pieces. Pour glaze over beets: Place beets in a serving bowl. Pour balsamic glaze over the beets. Stir in grated orange zest, and add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with a little orange zest to serve.

CHICKEN ZUCCHINI MEATBALLS
1 C finely shredded zucchini, 1# ground chicken, 1 egg, lightly beaten, ½ C panko, ½ C grated parmesan cheese, 2 cloves garlic, 1 T chopped fresh parsley, 2 tsp. dried basil, crushed, ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Preheat oven to 350. Line a 15×10 inch baking pan with foil; coat with non-stick cooking spray. Line a colander with paper towels; add zucchini. Sprinkle ½ tsp salt over zucchini. Let stand 20 minutes, pressing occasi0nally to remove moisture. In a large bowl combine zucchini, chicken, egg, panko, cheese, garlic, parsley, basil, red pepper, and ¼ tsp salt. Shape rounded tablespoons of mixture into 20 meatballs, place in prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes or until cooked through.   Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens August 2018

CURRIED ZUCCHINI SOUP
1 t olive oil, 11/2 C chopped onion, 4# zucchini, 1T dried thyme; crushed4 C chicken stock, 1 C heavy cream, 2 tsp. curry powder, ¼ C melted butter, ¼ C all-purpose flour, homemade croutons
In a 6 qt. Dutch oven heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, cook 4-5 minutes or until tender. Add zucchini and thyme; cook, covered, 12 minutes or until zucchini is softened, stirring occasionally. Add stock, cream, and curry powder. Bring to a boil. In a small bowl combine melted butter and flour; stir into soup. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 15 minutes or until zucchini is tender, stirring occasionally. Let cool slightly. Using an immersion blender, blend soup until creamy. Or, working in batches, blend soup in a food processor or blender. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Top with croutons. Recipe from Better Homes &

LEMON-PEPPER LINGUINE WITH SQUASH
Prep 30 minutes; ready in 20 minutes
1 pound whole-wheat spaghetti, 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1½ tablespoons black peppercorns, coarsely ground, 1 pound thin zucchini, trimmed and very thinly sliced lengthwise, 8 ounces thin yellow squash, trimmed and very thinly sliced lengthwise, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup packed soft fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, chives and/or basil, coarsely chopped, ½ cup finely grated Cacio de Roma or Manchego cheese, plus more for serving, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, 3 T lemon juice
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti and cook for 2 minutes less than the package directions. Reserve ¾ cup of the cooking water, then drain. Return the pasta to the pot. Meanwhile, heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add zucchini, squash and salt. Cook, gently stirring occasionally, until just softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the zucchini and squash to the pot with the pasta. Add the reserved pasta water, herbs, cheese, lemon zest and juice. Stir gently to combine. Serve with more cheese, if desired. Recipe form Eatingwell.com

GREEK SUMMER-SQUASH GRILLED PIZZA
Prep: 20 min.; Ready In; 20 min.|
1-pound whole-wheat pizza dough, ½ cup roasted red pepper hummus, 2 cups thinly sliced summer squash, 1 cup crumbled feta cheese ½ cup slivered fresh basil, Ground pepper for garnish
Preheat grill to medium-high. Roll dough into a 12-inch oval on a lightly floured surface. Transfer to a lightly floured large baking sheet. Bring the dough, hummus, squash and feta to the grill. Oil the grill rack. Transfer the crust to the grill. Close the lid and cook until puffed and lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Using tongs, turn the crust over. Spread the crust with the hummus and top with the squash and the feta. Close the lid and cook until the cheese is melted and the crust is lightly browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes more. Return the pizza to the baking sheet. Top with basil and pepper, if desired. Recipe from Eatingwell.com

SPICY CUCUMBER SALAD
2 cucumbers; 1 tablespoon white vinegar or rice wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons sesame oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 Thai Dragon hot pepper
Peel the cucumbers, cut lengthwise in two, and scrape out the seeds. Cut cucumbers crosswise into half-moons. Whisk the remaining ingredients together and toss with the cucumbers to coat them. You can control how hot the dish becomes by removing the seeds and pulp of the pepper or you can use just a slice or two of the hot pepper. If you don’t have a Thai Dragon hot pepper, substitute hot red pepper flakes or hot pepper sauce. Makes 4 servings.

CUCUMBER-YOGURT SOUP
1 medium cucumber, pared, seeded, and cut in large cubes (reserve 4 paper thin slices for garnish); 1/2 tbsp minced fresh chives; 1 tbsp minced fresh mint or 1 tsp dried mint, crushed; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 cup plain yogurt; 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice; 1/2 cup dairy sour cream; 1/2 clove garlic, quartered; 1/2 tbsp sugar; Minced mint or mint leaves for garnish
In blender or food processor, place all ingredients except garnish and blend until pureed. Refrigerate until well chilled. Serve with a garnish of cucumber slice on each serving, topped with additional mint. Serves 3.

GARDEN FRESH CUCUMBERS
2 tbsp vinegar; 1/2 tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 tsp celery seeds; 1 tbsp sugar; 3/4 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp pepper; 1 tbsp chopped onion; 1 ½ cup sliced peeled cucumbers (1 medium); Chopped parsley (optional)
Combine vinegar, lemon juice, celery seeds, sugar, salt, pepper and onion. Pour over cucumbers. Chill thoroughly. Serve topped with chopped parsley, if desired. Makes1 1/2 cups.

CUCUMBERS IN SOUR CREAM
1 large cucumber; 1/2 cup thick sour cream; 1-1/2 tbsp cider vinegar; 1 tbsp chopped chives; 3/4 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp. white pepper; hard-cooked egg yolk
Rinse and pare cucumber. Score 1/8-inch-deep by drawing tines of a fork lengthwise over entire surface. Cut into thin slices. Combine sour cream, vinegar, chives, salt and pepper. Pour over cucumber slices. Toss lightly to coat evenly. Chill thoroughly. Garnish with finely grated, hard-cooked egg yolk. Makes 4 servings.

STEAMED NAPA CABBAGE WITH GREEN PEPPER
One 2-lb. Napa cabbage, thinly sliced; 1/20 tsp. freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 cup cider vinegar; 1 tbsp. dark brown sugar; 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper; 1/4tsp. salt; 1 green pepper, seeded, deribbed and thinly sliced
Combine the vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper, red pepper, salt and 1/4 cup of water in a small saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, and cook it rapidly to reduce it by half – four to five minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and set it aside. Pour enough water into a large pot to fill it about 1 inch deep. Set a vegetable steamer in the pot and bring the water to a boil. Put the sliced cabbage and green pepper in the steamer, cover the pot tightly, and steam the vegetables until the cabbage is just barely wilted €about three minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl and pour the sauce through a strainer onto them. Toss the vegetables well to distribute the dressing evenly, and let them stand for five minutes before serving. Serves 6

FRIED PEPPERS WITH EGGS
1 large green pepper; 1 tbsp salad oil; 1/4 tsp salt; pinch of garlic salt; pinch of pepper; 1 egg; pinch of salt; 1 tbsp water
Wash pepper, cut off stem ends and remove seeds. Cut in strips. Add peppers to heated oil in skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring with a fork, until they are heated. Do not let peppers brown. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt, garlic salt and pepper. Lower heat; cover and cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover, increase heat to medium and cook to desired tenderness. For best flavor, do not overcook. Beat eggs, pinch of salt and water together slightly. Pour over peppers in skillet; do not stir mixture until eggs start to set; then, with fork or spatula, move mixture to allow all liquid to set. Do not let eggs overcook. Turn onto warm platter.

CUCUMBER AND PEPPER RELISH
1 or 2 (about 3/4 pound) dark green cucumbers; 1 small sweet pepper, any variety, very finely diced; 3 scallions, including an inch of the greens, thinly sliced; 2 tablespoons chopped dill; 1 tablespoon chopped lovage or cilantro; 1 1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar; sea salt and freshly ground white pepper
Score the cucumbers with the tines of a fork or a citrus zester. Cut them lengthwise into quarters, slice off the seeds, then chop the flesh into small pieces. Toss with the remaining ingredients. Taste for salt and adjust the level of acidity if needed. Let stand for 30 minutes if time allows. Use within a day or two.
Makes about 3 cups; Recipe from Local Flavors.

SWISS CHARD OMELET WITH MIDDLE EASTERN SAVOR
For each omelet: 1-2 teaspoons olive oil; 3 eggs, beaten; 1/2 cup chopped, cooked chard leaves and/or stems, warm or at room temperature; 1 tablespoon currants; 1 tablespoon finely chopped kalamata olives; I tablespoon toasted pine nuts; lemon juice; sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; herb sprig (rosemary, thyme, sage, etc.)
Heat olive oil in small nonstick skillet over high flame. Add beaten eggs-they will immediately begin to set on bottom of pan. With a spatula or nonstick egg lifter, pull the cooked egg from outer edges of pan toward center. The uncooked egg will spread and cook. Use spatula to help spread the liquid egg off top of cooked egg and onto exposed sections of pan bottom. Continue to do this until nearly all the liquid egg is set. Reduce heat to very low. The egg will continue to cook as you layer the following across the omelet: chard, currants, olives, and pine nuts. Sprinkle with a few drops of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, hold a plate close to the edge of skillet and, shaking skillet slightly, slip omelet onto the plate, either rolling it into a cigar shape or folding it over into a half-moon. Serve immediately. (Or, since this entire process takes only 2-3 minutes, you can keep the omelet warm in the oven while you make more of them.) Garnish with an herb sprig. Makes 1 serving. *This is best if the chard has been cooked with garlic and onions. Recipe from MACSAC

CHARD WRAPPED CHICKEN
1/4 cup olive oil; 2 Tbsp fresh dill, oregano or sage; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese; 6 medium boneless skinless chicken breasts; 6 swiss chard leaves, stems trimmed
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl combine olive oil, 1 tbsp herbs, garlic and pepper. In another small bowl combine feta cheese and one tablespoon of the olive oil mixture. Mash mixture together with the back of a spoon to forma paste. Top each chicken breast with some of the feta mixture pressing firmly. Wrap center portion of each chicken breast with a Swiss chard leaf, leaving ends exposed. Place wrapped chicken in a 3 quart (9 x 13) rectangular baking dish. Bake uncovered for 25 – 30 minutes or until done. If desired, sprinkle chicken with remaining tablespoon of herbs.

SWISS CHARD PIZZA
First chop the chard leaves and stems separately. Then microwave them separately as the stems will take a bit longer. Knead dough into pan. Massage oil onto dough. Spread on the chopped chard leaves then cover with chopped onion, 4 garlic cloves, oregano, chopped stems and grated parmesan cheese. Cover with another layer of dough which you have rolled out to approximate size. Vent the cover with holes to allow extra moisture to escape. Bake for 25 minutes at 325⁰.

ASIAN-STYLE CHARD
1 bunch Swiss chard, cleaned; 1 tablespoon peanut oil; 1 tablespoon minced garlic scapes; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; freshly ground black pepper
Cut off and discard thick stem ends of chard. Cut out ribs; chop ribs into 2-inch pieces; set aside in a pile. Stack the leaves in small piles; coarsely chop them. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high flame. Add ribs; toss and cook 1 1/2 minutes. Add leaves and garlic; continue to cook, tossing often, until chard begins to wilt, 2-3 minutes. Stir in soy sauce; cook until chard is tender, 1-3 minutes longer. Add pepper to taste. Serve immediately. Makes 2-4 servings. Recipe from MACSAC

SWISS CHARD PIE
1/2 onion, chopped; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 tbsp oil; 1 bunch Swiss chard; 3 eggs; 1/2 cup shredded cheese; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 pie crust
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brown onion and garlic in oil. Trim and chop chard, add to pan, and cook down until wilted. Beat eggs in a bowl; mix in cheese, salt, and chard mixture. Pour into pie crust; bake until knife inserted into center comes out clean, 30-40 minutes. Makes 1 pie. Recipe from Susanna Trucke, Dog Hollow Farm

SWISS CHARD NOODLE BAKE
1 lb. fresh Swiss chard, cooked just until wilted, drained and chopped; 1/2 pound penne or ziti noodles, freshly cooked and drained; 1/2 pound ricotta cheese; 1 15-ounce jars marinara sauce; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley; 1 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 3-quart casserole or baking dish. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and blend thoroughly. Turn into prepared dish and bake until top is golden brown and sauce is bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. 4 servings

CASHEW SALAD
Makes about 3 servings
3 c mixture of three kinds of lettuce, such as red leaf, romaine and Boston, washed and torn into bite-size pieces; 1/2 c cashews
For dressing: 1/4 small red onion, grated; 1/8 c vinegar; 1/4 c sugar; pinch of ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp celery seed; 1 tsp prepared mustard; 3/8 c olive oil; Toss lettuce with cashews.  Place onion, vinegar, sugar, pepper, celery seed, mustard and oil in jar with tight lid. Shake vigorously to emulsify, or blend in blender. When ready to serve, toss salad with half the dressing, then add more, to taste, or serve dressing on side.

LETTUCE SALAD
6 oz. crumbled blue cheese, at room temperature, 2/3 C vegetable oil , 1/3 C mayonnaise , 2 T white wine vinegar , 1 T hot sauce, such as Crystal or Louisiana, plus more if desired, Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Salad: 1 head lettuce, cut into quarters through the equator (circular slices), 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters , 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled or chopped into pieces , 1/4 cup thinly sliced chives
For the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the blue cheese, oil, mayonnaise, vinegar and hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper and add more hot sauce if preferred. Set aside.
For the salad: Divide the lettuce rounds among 4 plates. Pour 1/2 cup of the dressing over each. Top each with one-quarter of the tomatoes and bacon. Sprinkle some chives on top. Serve immediately.

SWEET CHERRY PIE RECIPE
Prep time: 20 minutes; Cook time: 1 hour; Pie chilling before baking time: 30 minutes Yield: Makes 8 servings
We’ve used 1/2 cup of sugar for the filling, which results in a pie not overly sweet. You may want to use more or less sugar, depending on how sweet you would like your pie to be, and how sweet your cherries are.
Pie dough for top and bottom 9 or 10-inch pie crust, cups sweet cherries, pitted, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 6 Tbsp cornstarch, 2 teaspoons of butter, cut into small pieces, 1 egg, Coarse sugar for sprinkling
Toss cherries with sugar, almond extract, lemon juice, cornstarch: Place the pitted cherries, sugar, almond extract, lemon juice and cornstarch in a large bowl. Toss until the cherries are well coated with the sugar and other ingredients.
Roll out bottom crust: On a lightly floured clean surface, roll out the bottom crust. Form it into a 9 or 10-inch pie pan. Using kitchen scissors, trim the edges so that they extend beyond the edge of the pie pan by 1 inch. Place in the refrigerator while you roll out the top crust.
Roll out top crust: Roll out the top crust to about the same size as the bottom crust. If you want to make a lattice top (it’s pretty and it’s easy to do) follow these instructions for making a lattice pie crust.
Place filling in pie, dot with butter, top with top crust, chill: Use a slotted spoon to lift the cherries out of the bowl and put them in the pie plate. (Leave any excess liquid behind.) Dot with small dabs of butter. Cover with the top crust. Trim the edges. Crimp to seal the edges together. Score the top crust with several cuts so that the steam can escape while the pie is cooking (unnecessary if you are making a lattice crust). Refrigerate for 30 minutes before cooking. Brush with egg wash (optional) In a small bowl, whisk the egg with a tablespoon of water or milk. Use a pastry brush to brush over the top crust. Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar.
Bake: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the pie in the middle rack, with a baking sheet on the rack below to catch any pie drippings. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temp to 350°F and cook for 45 to 55 minutes longer, or until the crust is nicely browned and the filling is thick and bubbly. Allow to cool completely before serving. Recipe from Simplyrecipes.com

CHOCOLATE CHIP CHERRY BARS
Prep time 10 min. Cook time 30 min. Cooling time 20 min. Total time 1 hour
1/2 C unsalted butter, melted (1 stick), 1 C light brown sugar, packed,  1 large egg,  2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 C all-purpose flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, optional,  3/4 to 1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1 C cherries (fresh or frozen; pitted)*
Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, about 60 seconds. To the melted butter, add the brown sugar and stir to combine. Add the egg, vanilla, and stir to combine. Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined, taking care not to over mix or the blondies will be tough. Fold in chocolate chips, fruit (I don’t halve the cherries: I like them chunky and big), and pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing it lightly with a spatula or offset knife if necessary. Bake for 27 to 32 minutes, or until edges begin to slightly pull away from sides of pan and center is set.** Allow bars to cool for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving. Blondies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months.
*Can also use a combination of plums, peaches, nectarines, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries. **Baking time will vary based on types of fruit used and the moisture content of the fruit; and how gooey you like your blondies. A toothpick inserted into the middle may not come out clean due to the chocolate chips or juicy fruit. Recipe from: Averiecooks.com

FRESH DARK SWEET CHERRY COBBLER
5 c pitted and halved sweet red cherries, about 1.7 pounds, 2/3 granulated sugar, 2 T cornstarch, 1/4 tsp. salt, 2T fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/4 tsp almond extract
For the topping:  1 C all-purpose flour, 1/2 C sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 T unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces, 1/3-1/2 C milk, cold
In a large saucepan, combine the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in the lemon juice, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes, or until cherries are tender and juices have thickened. Transfer cherries to an ungreased 8-inch square baking pan.
Make the topping: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add enough milk to moisten the dough. Drop by the spoonfuls over the top of the cherries. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the top is golden brown and biscuit is cooked through.
You’ll need about 1.7 pounds of cherries. Use any variety you like. For a sweeter taste, choose dark red cherries such as Bing or Balaton. If you prefer a sour variety, you may need to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more sugar depending on taste.
*Make ahead tip: The cobbler can be baked up to 6 hours ahead of time and cooled completely. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Before serving, let stand at room temperature for 1 hour, then warm in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes.