May and cherries – they go hand in hand. On the first day of

May is not only a time for love but also the season when cherries ripen. Those who love them have a feast in May and June. Did you also used to make cherry earrings for your loved one? Maybe you remember times when it was enough to climb a tree and pick them in handfuls straight into your mouth. Eat your fill; they will also benefit your health.

Health Bomb

Cherries contain a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that positively affect health. Flavonoids, vitamin C, and carotenoids are richly represented in them, protecting cells from damage by free radicals. Antioxidants, such as anthocyanin, which cherries do not lack, have anti-inflammatory properties that relieve pain associated with arthritis or muscle tension. Did you know that cherries improve sleep? They contain natural melatonin, which regulates sleep cycles and helps with insomnia. In addition, they support digestion, as they contain a lot of fiber, which improves intestinal peristalsis and prevents constipation. Cherries have the ability to reduce the risk of heart disease. They lower "bad" LDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure, thereby protecting the cardiovascular system. And what will also please ladies - they help regulate weight. They are low in calories and boast a high water and fiber content, which promotes a feeling of fullness. Of course, they contain the most beneficial substances for the body in their raw state. If you cook them, do so for the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible temperature to lose as few nutrients as possible.

Get them on the plate!

Cherries taste best straight from the tree. They are a great healthy snack – for schoolchildren and for us adults, they are suitable for fruit salads or with yogurt or cottage cheese. They also taste excellent in smoothies – prepare them with banana, spinach, almond milk, and a little honey, you will be pleasantly surprised. Cherries are also perfect for baking cakes – in addition to cherry cobbler, which is sworn by both young and old, they are also suitable for muffins, cheesecakes, or pancakes. Cherries, and their sisters, sour cherries, are an excellent ingredient for preparing ice cream and pure fruit sorbet. Cherry compote is a classic, and cherry jam is a delicacy that we love to spread on bread and pancakes. A wonderful cherry surprise on the plate is a sweet sauce for meat, cheeses, and grilled food – so-called cherry chutney. Prepare it with us!

Odkôsktovač Orava PR-01

Before you start cooking and baking, it is necessary to remove the pits from the cherries. The hot new product from Orava – the Orava PR-01 cherry pitter – will gladly help you with this. It will make your work easier, save you time, and ensure that the cherries remain beautifully round even after pitting. The device has a strong mechanism and is fixed to the table with a silicone suction cup, so working with it is safe, and you won't be chasing cherries around the table.

Cherry Chutney (sweet sauce)

Ingredients: 500 g pitted cherries, 1 medium red onion (finely chopped), 100 g brown sugar (or to taste), 50 ml red wine vinegar, 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1 chili pepper (finely chopped, but you don't have to add it if you don't like spicy), pinch of salt

Preparation method: Simply pit the cherries using the Orava PR-01 pitter, and if they are larger, cut them into smaller pieces. In a pot over medium heat, warm a little oil and add the finely chopped onion. Sauté until transparent. Add the cherries, sugar, vinegar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and chili to the onion. Mix the mixture well, bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for approximately 30 – 40 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the chutney from burning. The consistency should be thick. Finally, season with salt and possibly more sugar or vinegar to taste.

Čerešnové čatní

Fill hot chutney into sterilized jars, seal, and turn upside down for 10 minutes. After cooling, store in a cool, dark place.

Chutney is best after a few days when the flavors combine. You can experiment with adding dried raisins or an apple for a milder taste.

As soon as cherries begin to ripen, cobbler must be made. Fluffy, light, it tastes great with coffee, at a picnic, and for schoolchildren's snacks. This time, however, try baking a different cake from them – cherry kefir cake with crumble, cherry brownie, cottage cheese cake with cherries, or our cherry-poppy seed delicacy.

Poppy Seed and Cherry Cake with Spelt Flour

Ingredients: 4 eggs, ½ cup cane sugar, 1 vanilla sugar, ½ cup oil, 1 cup milk, 1 cup poppy seeds, 2 cups spelt flour, 1 baking powder, 750 g cherries

Preparation method: Use a cup with a volume of 3 dcl. Wash the cherries and simply pit them using theOrava PR-01 pitter. Whisk the eggs with sugar until foamy. Stir in the oil at lower speed. Mix the flour with poppy seeds and baking powder, and at low speed, gradually whisk in the eggs alternately with lukewarm milk. Pour the batter onto a greased and floured baking pan. You can lightly toss the cherries with a spoon of flour so they don't sink to the bottom. Distribute them evenly over the batter. Bake at approximately 180 °C for about 35 minutes or according to your oven's experience..

Makovo-čerešnový koláč