Chopped Cherries Oven Dried Recipes

OVEN-DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment, and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, toss red cherries with balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon sugar. In another bowl, toss yellow cherries with white balsamic vinegar and remaining tablespoon sugar. Let cherries stand 30 minutes.
• Arrange cherries cut-sides up on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until cherries are wrinkled but still moist, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer sheets to a wire rack to cool completely. Store the cherries in an airtight container, refrigerated, up to 1 week.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Finely chop 1/2 pound dark chocolate. Combine three-quarters of the chocolate and 1 teaspoon coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate is melted; stir in the remaining chocolate until smooth. Dip 1 pound fresh cherries in the chocolate by the stems and set on parchment paper. Let harden at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE COVERED DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Place the dried cherries in a coating pan attached to a stand mixer. Spin at low speed. Using a ladle, add the chocolate to the spinning cherries. Add one ladleful at a time until the cherries are coated to the desired thickness. (Use a 50/50 ratio (50 percent chocolate, 50 percent weight of the cherries.) If a thicker coat is desired, use more chocolate and vice versa.
• How to Temper Chocolate(From Dessert Circus, Extraordinary Desserts You Can Make At Home by Jacques Torres):
• Chocolate is tempered so that after it has been melted, it retains its gloss and hardens again without becoming chalky and white (that happens when the molecules of fat separate and form on top of the chocolate). There are a variety of ways to temper.
• One of the easiest ways to temper chocolate is to chop it into small pieces and then place it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time on high power until most of the chocolate is melted. Be very careful not to overheat it. (The temperature of dark chocolate should be between 88 and 90 degrees F, slightly warmer than your bottom lip. It will retain its shape even when mostly melted. White and milk chocolates melt at a temperature approximately 2 degrees F less because of the amount of lactose they contain.) Any remaining lumps will melt in the chocolate's residual heat. Use an immersion blender or whisk to break up the lumps. Usually, chocolate begins to set, or crystallize, along the side of the bowl. As it sets, mix those crystals into the melted chocolate to temper it. A glass bowl retains heat well and keeps the chocolate tempered longer.
• Another way to temper chocolate is called seeding. In this method, add small pieces of unmelted chocolate to melted chocolate. The amount of unmelted chocolate to be added depends on the temperature of the melted chocolate, but is usually 1/4 of the total amount. It is easiest to use an immersion blender for this, or a whisk.
• The classic way to temper chocolate is called tabliering. Two thirds of the melted chocolate is poured onto a marble or another cold work surface. The chocolate is spread out and worked with a spatula until its temperature is approximately 81 degrees F. At this stage, it is thick and begins to set. This tempered chocolate is then added to the remaining non-tempered chocolate and mixed thoroughly until the mass has a completely uniform temperature. If the temperature is still too high, part of the chocolate is worked further on the cold surface until the correct temperature is reached. This is a lot of work, requires a lot of room, and makes a big mess.
• A simple method of checking tempering, is to apply a small quantity of chocolate to a piece of paper or to the point of a knife. If the chocolate has been correctly tempered, it will harden evenly and show a good gloss within a few minutes.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES III

Steps:

• Using a double boiler, heat the chocolate until melted. Stir in milk, using enough to make the chocolate smooth.
• Holding the cherries by their stems, dip them one by one into the chocolate mixture.
• Place the coated cherries on wax paper until the chocolate has dried.

PORK CHOPS W/DRIED CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Place 2 cups stock, the dried cherries and balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium heat and simmer gently until the sauce is reduced by half.
• Set aside.
• Twenty minutes before serving, sprinkle each side of each pork chop with salt and pepper.
• Place the olive oil and butter in a medium-sized saute pan and heat until the bubble subside.
• Place each chop carefully in the pan so they are not touching.
• Leave them to brown without moving for 2 to 3 minutes.
• When the chops are a brown, turn with tongs and brown the other side.
• Remove the chops from the pan, pour off any fat, add 1/2 cup chicken stock.
• Return the chops to the pan, place over low heat, cover, and cook gently for 3-4 minutes, until the chops are just firm when pressed with a finger.
• Remove the chops and keep warm.
• Add the balsamic-dried cherry mixture to the saute pan and bring to a boil.
• Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes - it should coat the spoon again.
• Taste, add salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the chops on warm dinner plates; spoon over the dried cherry sauce.
• Garnish with sprigs of watercress or Italian parsley.

DRIED CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Combine cherries, hot water, and almond extract: let stand 20 minutes. Drain cherries, and pat dry between layers of paper towels. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, and 1 cup white sugar. Add yogurt, eggs, and oil. Stir well. Fold in cherries. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 inch round cake pan.
• Stir pecans and 1 tablespoon white sugar together. Sprinkle on top of batter in pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or until wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Serve warm, or at room temperature.