Cherries! Cherries! Cherries!!!!

I don't know about you, but cherries are hands down my most favorite fruit of all time--I get giddy just thinking about them! Ever since I was I kid, I fondly remember LOVING these sweet, intensely pigmented, juicy beauties, probably because they were tell tale sign that summer had arrived. And what's not to love about these self-contained ruby-hued morsels of nature's candy? As an adult (and a serious foodie who embraces the freshest and best of each season), I am equally enthusiastic about the arrival of my beloved cherries, the epicurean possibilities are endless.

Several years ago, I was thrilled to discover that I could pick cherries locally in the Leona Valley and I have been hooked ever since. It is less than an hour's drive from LA and you feel like you are transported back in time. This is a small one-horse town and is a wonderful escape-for-the-day trip, and also an excellent adventure for families with small children. The Leona Valley has over a dozen cherry orchards where you and your family can pick and sample (for flavor only, not for eating : -) some of the most delicious and freshest cherries of the season. Cherry tree fruit hangs low to the ground and is very easy for the little munchkins to pick. Basically, you pick all the cherries you can fit in a bucket and pay about $3 a pound for what you pick (usually cash only)--it's fun, yummy, cheap and a delightful all around experience. And at the start of the season, the Leona Valley even has a kitschy Cherry Parade too!

The most important piece of advice I can give you about cherry picking (besides to wear old clothes because cherry juice stains) is that the season is SUPER short and if you blink you will miss it. But you are in luck, because you have me, your in-the-know gal who is kindly letting you know that the season is in full swing right now until the end of June. We went last weekend with our good friends and their kids (remember David the Karaoke King and Ingy Baby?) and we had an absolute blast--the kids loved tasting the super fresh sweet cherries, were so happy that they were easy to pick and they felt such pride when they filled their buckets to the rim with these tasty cherries.

So pack a picnic, grab a blanket, and some old clothes and head to the Leona Valley to partake in the season's bounty for a fun and inexpensive outing. Checkout Hobarts (the oldest orchard) and Windy Ridge (one of the more picturesque orchards) with their great picnic grounds, homemade cherry bread and a fun little tram/tractor ride up to the orchards.

And because you will pick way more cherries than you can possibly eat, I am sharing one of my favorite, super easy cherry dessert recipes that showcases the fruit--Enjoy and happy picking!

CHERRY CRISP
1 1/2 lb pitted sweet cherries
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

Heat oven to 375°. Grease square pan, 8x8x2 inches. Spread cherries in pan. Mix the remaining ingredients thoroughly. Sprinkle mixture over cherries. Bake 30 minutes or until the top is brown. Serve warm with ice cream.