Orchard Talk

2 eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup shredded unpeeled zucchini
1/4 cup water
2/3 cup dried tart cherries
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 teaspoons baking powder

Put eggs in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed 3 to 4 minutes, or until eggs are thick and lemon colored. Add sugar, oil, lemon juice and water; mix well.

Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, soda and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; mix well. Stir in zucchini, cherries and lemon peel.

Grease and flour the bottom only of an 8-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch loaf pan. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in a preheated 350F.oven 55 to 65 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Makes 1 loaf, about 16 slices

Source: Cherry Marketing Institute

Tags: bread recipes, Cherries, cherry recipes, dried cherries, michigan, michigan cherries, michigan tart cherries, tart cherries, tart cherry recipes, traverse city, zucchini recipes

The King family and crew are readying for what we hope is a fruitful growing season. Our strategy for 2009: Growing great fruit, while providing exceptional service and value to our customers and community.

Some of what we’re working on:

Betsy and I have been finalizing new designs for 1/2 peck fruit bags and updating the product catalog to reflect new items (insert shameless plug for Nuts about Cherries Trail Mix) and packaging.

Rose has been busy laying out her garden and bakery plans for the Kewadin market, but took time out to make one of her famous cherry pies for our photo shoot.

John and Jim are ordering more trees, repairing equipment, filing taxes, preparing crop reports, attending GAP (good agricultural practices) training, making this year’s IPM plans, etc. In short, working hard to grow great fruit.

I think it’s really starting to happen. Spring, I mean. There is one resistant pile of snow in front of the M-88 fruitstand, but I give that bugger 2 or 3 days at best.  Soon we’ll be talking about bees and blossoms and buds. Oh my!

For visual proof of impending spring and a glimpse of life in the Torch Lake area, you really have to read Gerry Sell’s Torch Lake Views blog. She is far more eloquent than I, and has a real gift for capturing the character of our community. This week, she posted some incredible morning shots of Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay, and also writes about Michigan-made products. Gotta love that.

Don’t forget to drink your cherry juice!
Patty

Tags: Crop Updates & Orchard Talk