I absolutely LOVE cherries. Artificial cherry flavour has a bad reputation, but it’s my absolute favourite fake flavour (lollipops, jello, popsicles). I love fresh cherries even more than fake ones and nothing says summer to me more than cherries. Growing up in Vancouver meant that summertimes were made for road-tripping it down to the Okanagan Valley to pick fruit at all the U-Pick orchards.
Sometimes my whole extended family would go on a camping trip together, but my favourite times were when it was just the four of us, me, my mom and dad, and Kevin. We’d pack a tent, bring some buckets and live the fruit picking life for a couple of weeks. No TV, no phones (smart phones didn’t exist back then!), just the stars, the barbecue and massive fruit orchards.
My dad would insist on driving around to all the orchards to find the best u-pick price. My mom would be more concerned about the quality of fruit and whether or not pesticides were used. Kevin and I would just be itching to get out of the van. Fruit picking is a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. Still, we were pretty quick about the whole thing – the ladder would come out, trees would be climbed, fruit would be picked. On our way home, our little van would be packed to the brim full of peaches, cherries and apricots. After the long and winding drive, we’d invite our family and friends over to help themselves to the free fruit stand we’d set up in our backyard. Those trips were always my favourite part of summer.
Sadly, I haven’t gone to pick cherries in a long time now. Happily though, my Whole Foods carries locally sourced BC cherries. I partnered up with them today to bring you this post and a giveaway! Whole Foods is giving away a $50 gift card to one lovely reader.
To enter: please leave a comment below with your favourite childhood summer food memory. Giveaway ends on July 22nd at 12AM PST. Open to US or Canadian residents only. Winner will be chosen by a random number generator. Good luck!
UPDATE: Yay! Cindy M, get ready to go shopping because you just won a $50 Whole Foods gift card! Congrats!
Easy Pistachio Cherry Tart Recipe
makes 9 tarts
- 1/2 sheet store bought puff pastry, thawed
- 1/4 cup ricotta
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste
- 14 cherries, halved and pitted
- 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios
Cut the puff pastry into 9 equal pieces and poke all over with fork so they don’t puff too much in the oven. Bake according to the package. While the puff is baking, whip together the ricotta, cream cheese and honey until fluffy and smooth. Adjust to taste. When the puff is ready, cool and if needed, flatten slightly so the cherries have a nice level plane to sit on. When cool, spread with ricotta mix, top with cherry halves and chopped pistachios. Enjoy!
Going to my grandpa’s orchard and picking apples and apricots. Nothing tasted better.
Otter Pops. Yes, it’s true. In Phoenix we practically LIVED by the pool in summertime. After a day a pool play out in the heat…. there was nothing like a cool, sweet Otter Pop to refresh the tongue and spirit. My favorite flavor, ironically, was “the red one” {which I think is cherry}. It’s been too long since I’ve bitten, sucked and sipped that Otter Pop awesomeness. And now I must go to Costco and buy a giant box. Happy Summertime!
Eating grilled corn on the cob
Definitely grilling on a warm summer day, followed by some juicy watermelon!
My favorite summer food memory is my parents making grilled veggies and BBQ tofu on warm summer nights.
my favourite summer food memory would be at the cottate – corn roasts, pit bbqs and stopping at a small town bakery on the way and loading up for the cottage.
Great Tastes = Food Memories !!
I loved picking corn in my grandfather’s backyard .. then heading inside to shuck it ( still warm from the sun ) , boil it & sit down to fresh corn with butter melting off the sides .. a homemade burger ( you know, soft, covered in gooey cheese & a soft bun ) , fresh tomato slices ( yes, from the garden of course !! ) , great homemade corn relish & a piece of butter lettuce .. finish it off with fresh strawberries & whipped cream = yum !!
My favorite childhood memory is making applesauce with my grandma and grandpa. This was an event that spanned the length of an entire weekend and we made enough applesauce to freeze and enjoy all winter/summer long. The applesauce was tart with just a hint of sweetness. The whole kitchen was filled with apple peels and the smell of cinnamon.
Seedless watermelons are a great convenience, but how can they ever compare to the big juicy ones full of seeds? Take a bite of watermelon. Let the juices drip down your chin. Try not to swallow the seeds because you’ll need them to see how far you can get them to fly across the yard! Oops, I really didn’t mean to hit you, brother!
Best summer food memory: harvesting in my grandpa’s backyard and cooking it all up with grandma. Cucumber, tomato, sweet onion, basil salad with evoo, red wine vinegar (maybe some shaved parm); roasted figs stuffed with fontina, wrapped with pancetta; thick roman green beans stewed with peeled tomato, whole basil leaves, and hot bishops hat peppers; zucchini and their bright yellow/orange flowers turned into pan-fried fritters. Mmmmmm . . . makes me feel like a kid again.