Food & Fitness: Cherry Pickin'

This summer I have fallen in love with cherries (tough luck for the hubby, he's allergic). So much so that I feel the need to show off these crimson beauties just a wee bit. I don't know why I have never given much thought to buying cherries until this year, but I'm glad I did after reading some nutritional information about them.  They are loaded with Vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and the antioxidant anthocyanin (which gives them their deep garnet color).  I haven't just fallen in love with this super food's nutrition, but also their versatility.  I have added these bad boys (pitted of course) to my cereal, oatmeal, muffins, yogurt, and pancakes. I even made some cherry salsa! Will most definitely be sharing some recipes in the future.

 Write cherries on your grocery list and follow these tips while pickin' cherries:

• Buy fresh May through August and frozen or dried the rest of the year for highest quality.
• They don't get sweeter or ripen any more after being picked, so waiting to eat them is not better.
• Choose with stems attached (they last longer).
• Select those with firm glossy skins, free of blemishes.
• They can be unrefrigerated for 2 days. Refrigeration can extend shelf life from 3 days to a week.
• For easy pitting, get a cherry stoner.  

 ***Don't swallow the pits, apparently they are poisonous in large quantities.  I wouldn't know by experience or anything......okay I did, but it was only one and it was an accident. Still alive to tell about it though. :)***