Cherry Lemon Relish Food

EASY CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan (off the heat), add water (use 1/3 cup for fresh cherries and 1/4 cup water for frozen cherries). Whisk in 1 Tbsp cornstarch, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp sugar.
• Place over medium heat and whisk constantly until the mixture starts to thicken.
• Add cherries and cook stirring occasionally until sauce is at a light boil (about 6-10 minutes for fresh cherries and 12-15 minutes for frozen). The sauce should be thickened and uniformly bubbling, not just at the edges, then remove from heat.
• Cool to room temperature then cover and store in the refrigerator in a glass mason jar or Tupperware container until ready to use. It will thicken more as it stands.

SWEET CHERRY PEPPER RELISH

Steps:

• Put the peppers, pineapple, celery and garlic in the bowl of a food processor. While streaming in the olive oil, pulse until combined but still coarse. Season with salt and a little bit of the pickling liquid from the peppers if desired.

CHERRY-LEMON RELISH

Steps:

• Combine the zest of 2 lemons (in wide strips), 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar and 1 cinnamon stick in a pot over medium heat; bring to a simmer and cook until the zest is slightly translucent, 6 to 8 minutes. Strain; reserve the lemon zest and syrup and discard the cinnamon stick. Put the lemon zest in a food processor; add 1 1/2 pounds frozen cherries (thawed and drained) and a pinch of salt. Pulse, adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the sugar syrup to loosen. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice.

LEMON CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Pat cherries dry with paper towels; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon zest and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk., Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with cherries. Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack., For topping, in a bowl, beat cream cheese, lemon juice and peel until smooth. Beat in enough confectioners' sugar until mixture achieves desired consistency. Cut cake; top each piece with a dollop of topping.

SOUR CHERRY RELISH

Steps:

• Place the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and thyme and cook for 1-2 minutes or until just golden. Add the cherries, orange rind, liqueur, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Bring to the boil and cook for 30-35 minutes or until reduced and glossy. Allow to cool completely at room temperature.

CHERRY TOMATO AND LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• In skillet, heat oil over medium low heat.
• Cook garlic, half the parsley and the salt and pepper til fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, lemon rind and sugar.
• Saute over medium-hig heat until tomatoes are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Mix in lemon juice and remaining parsley.
• Makes 1 cup.

CHERRY TOMATO SAUCE WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat oil at medium-low heat. Add garlic, half of the parsley, salt and pepper and cook, while stirring, for about 2 minutes or until garlic begins to smell.
• Add cherry tomatoes, lemon zest and sugar and keep on cooking at medium-high heat, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until cherry tomatoes have softened. Add lemon juice and remaining of parsley and stir.