RECIPES WITH DRIED CHERRIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Start by making a fondant - simply combine the first five ingredients until smooth and not sticky. Chill in fridge for an hour.
• Line a baking sheet with wax paper and spread cherries out in a single layer - stems on, if possible. Freeze for an hour.
• When ready to make your chocolate covered cherries, remove fondant and cherries from the fridge/freezer. Since it takes a bit of time to make these, I remove only a few cherries and a bit of fondant at a time so that they don't get too warm and sticky.
• Wrap each cherry in 1-2 teaspoons of the fondant, forming a tight ball. Return cherries to tray and freeze again for an hour.
• Use either the microwave or a double-boiler to melt your chocolate. Thin it down with enough reserved cherry juice to get the proper consistency for dipping.
• Removing a few fondant-wrapped cherries from the freezer at a time, dip them in the chocolate and coat completely. Since my cherries didn't have stems, I did follow the tip of using a toothpick to aid in the dipping process. Let the excess chocolate drip off, then put the cherry on wax paper to rest. Dab a bit of extra chocolate on top to cover any hole left from the toothpick.
• When done, place dipped cherries in the fridge to set. Store in an airtight container in the fridge as well. If you let them be for a few days, the center with be nice and liquidy... but they're good right away too!

Steps:

• Add greens, apple slices, pecan halves, dried cherries, and blue cheese chunks into a large salad bowl.In a small jar, mix Dijon, maple syrup, vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake well to mix. Pour a little salad dressing over the top of the salad and toss to combine. Taste salad and add more salad dressing to taste. Serve with french fries. Just kidding. I think.