ENJOY the short season of golden, red-blushed Rainier cherries -- succulent popped straight out of hand. Plump Rainiers are a produce best buy at $2.29 a pound at Star Markets; $2.49 to Maika'i Card holders at Foodland and Sack N Save; and $2.88 at Daiei. Rainier cherries
a rare summer treatOther tasty buys include fresh corn at 3 for $1 at Star; apricots for 99 cents to Safeway Club members; and Island Fresh watermelon for 19 cents a pound at Times and at Daiei, through Saturday.
To pit cherries for the recipe below, try a small pastry-tube tip. Place the cone-shaped, stainless-steel tip point upward on a work surface and push each cherry over it, stem end down. Use a star tip or round tip, each 3/16 of an inch. Pits emerge easily held by the pastry-tip point, although it does split the cherry.
Rustic cherry shortcake
From Northwest Cherry Growers4 slices French breadSpread 2 sides of French bread with butter. Mix 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle on 1 side of bread. Place on baking sheet, cinnamon side up. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until crisp.
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-1/2 cups pitted Rainier or other cherries
1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
3 to 4 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur or pineapple juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream or vanilla yogurtCombine fruit, remaining sugar, orange liqueur and lemon peel; mix well. Spoon fruit mixture over each slice of cinnamon toast. Top with sour cream and sprinkle with cinnamon. Makes 4 servings
Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 294 calories, 11 g fat, 27 mg cholesterol, 292 mg sodium.*
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