Cherries hold a special place in my heart. My summers as a kid included afternoons of relaxing around my grandmother’s home in Alabama and snacking on fresh cherries with my aunt who’s only a few years older than me. I can’t forget about all those desserts that are topped with cherries. As I grew older, cherries could be found in my cocktails. However, I never considered the healthy aspects of snacking on cherries and quite frankly have taken them for granted. Now that I have my own children, health when snacking is something I take seriously, especially on all those family road trips we like to take.
I recently received a number of dried cherry packets to sample with my family. I’ve not only shared them with friends and family, but we’ve all been sneaking a cherry here and there because they taste like candy. We decided to make a trail mix as a healthy road trip snack with cherries and even gave the recipe and some cherries to our neighbor who is soon taking a two week road trip to Yellowstone.
The cherries weren’t the only items to arrive in the promotional package. I was also sent a beautiful Kashmere travel set, a Tory Burch small cosmetic case, and a reusable tote from the Cherry Marketing Institute printed with the website www.ChooseCherries.com. All the items are a beautiful cherry red (that even match my car). I checked out the sponsor website and didn’t realize all the benefits of consuming these delicious cherries. Here are some facts that surprised me:
Jet Lag Relief – I fly frequently, so finding out that cherries are rich in melatonin. Melatonin helps regulate the natural sleep cycle so that weary travelers can be restored to normal sleeping patterns, which eases jet lag.
Pain Relief - Cherries are particularly rich in anthocyanins – compounds that researchers have linked to reduced inflammation in the body. This means that arthritis and other inflammatory diseases can possibly be managed with cherry juice or the actual cherry itself. They’ve also been known to help runners recover more quickly post-race.
Good for your Heart – Cherries are considered a “Super Fruit” and some studies have shown that consuming cherries helps reduce infection and inflammation due to heart disease.
I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv, but I do know one thing – cherries taste really good! I’ll be making a conscious effort to make cherries part of our daily culinary routine and make sure that we pack them along on our future travels. In fact, I just may take a visit to the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, MI being held in a few weeks. I’ll be sure to bring along a pack of cherries to snack on during my travels. Be sure to check out www.ChooseCherries.com for more information on the health benefits of cherries or to find a few tasty recipes for travel and home.
Want to try some delicious cherries and get your hands on the designer items mentioned in this post? Check out ChooseCherries.com and leave a comment stating which recipe on the site is your favorite. One winner will be randomly chosen through Random.org. Contest closes Monday, June 28 at 11:59 pm CST with winner being announced sometime the next day. Open to US residents 18 years of age or older. Prize is (1) Tory Burch small cosmetic bag in red, (1) Kashmere travel set with scarf, socks, eye mask, and pillow case in red, (1) ChooseCherries.com logo reusable tote, and a few samples of cherries. MSRP valued at over $345.00 US.
Review items and prizes sponsored by the Cherry Marketing Institute but in no way influenced opinion in this article. The cherries really were delicious!
Winner Update: Congrats to Leanne, lucky number 13!
{ 119 comments }
I like the chocolate cherry recovery drink. I’m watching my calorie and fat intake and 210 calories and 10 g of fat with 8 g of protein. I think it’s more filling than one of those lame recovery bars and taste better too.
The Grilled Banzino sounds great..
The Cherry Pecan Energy Bars sound so good! When I was growing up, we had 3 cherry trees in our front yard and my Mom made the most wonderful cherry pies and cherry preserves!
Cherry Nut spread
I’d love to try the Cherry Vanilla Oatmeal!
Reduced Sugar Cherry Pie looks good
I think the cherry trail mix is something my whole family would enjoy.
I would like the Triple Threat Scones with Orange Drizzle
The cherry chicken salad sounds different!
Spiced Cherry Popcorn Mix sounds really good–I wouldn’t have thought to mix cherries and popcorn!
would like to try the Oatmeal Cherry Cookies
mverno@roadrunner.com
Cherry cornbread
Choco-Cherry Smoothies sound so delicious!
I’d like to try making the Cherry Oatmeal Muffins..what a great breakfast idea.
The “Very Cherry Crunch Cake ” Yummy! Lots of healthly stuff in there! I have never heard of turbinado sugar- interesting.
My favorite recipe is the Cherry Biscotti!
We had a red sour cherry tree from which my grandmother made the best cherry pies I have ever tasted. When my mom and dad bought the house the former owner stated that the tree was pretty useless as the birds got all the cherries first but my dad fixed that. He went up to Sears and Roebuck and bought an entire bolt of cheesecloth and from the moment the flowers fell he draped the tree in the cheesecloth. The berries got all the sun they needed and grew well and the birds just sat in the other trees squaking their frustration. Of all the recipes the Open-Faced Turkey Melt with Cherry-Cabbage Slaw sounds most delicious.
Cherry Buttermilk Scones – Love Scones ans cherries- what a great mix
The cherry salsa sounds amazing! I love fruit salsas, but I’ve never tried cherry. Yum!
great site with lots of good receipes, I think I will make the Cherry Oatmeal Muffins!
The Cherry Granola Bread sounds good, I have never tried dried cherries, they sound delicious.
I want to make Pork Medallions with Cherry Sauce
I want to try Cherry Rice Pilaf with my favorite kind of rice–Forbidden Rice.
cherry pecan energy bars sound delish.
I’d try the Cherry Vanilla oatmeal since I usually have oatmeal for breakfast.
I like the recipe for Chocolate Cherry buttermilk scones.
For sure the Cherry Buttermilk Scones! Yummmm. Thanks
the Cherry Vanilla Oatmeal sounds delish!
I think the Double Cherry Pumpkin Muffins would be perfect for my family.
Everyone in our family loves scones and the Triple Threat Scones with Orange Drizzle sound delicious as well as nutritious.
I live in Livonia about 4 hours from Traverse City and we drive up almost every weekend to our friends cottage on Duck Lake. We will be Up North for the Cherry Festival. When you’re in Traverse City make sure to stop by Hoxie Farm for fresh cherries, The Cherry Store for some cherry wine and Traverse Bay Farms for some of their cherry salsa.
The cherry cornbread sounds beyond amazing!!
The cherry oatmeal muffins sound delicious and I plan to make them
Cherries have long been a favorite and I use dried cherries in oatmeal cherry cookies. The low calorie cherry pie sounds great.
I think the Super Berry Shortbread would be my favorite recipe.
Tangy Cherry Tea Sorbet.
I love Cherry Oatmeal Muffins! looks so delicious.
Cherry-Banana Raisin Bread Pudding sounds too delicious.
the cherry trail mix
The Cherry Pecan Energy Bars sound really good.
I really would like to try the Cherry Vanilla Oatmeal. It sounds delicious.
I would like to try the crunchy cherry party mix…. sounds great and is easy to make!
The Sweet Potatoes with Cherry Glaze sounds absolutely delicious. I bookmarked it so I can try it out in the future. I adore sweet potatoes and cherries, so you can’t go wrong there. Thanks so much for the chance to win!!
The Cherry and Turkey Rolled Sandwiches sound delicious.
Thank you so much for the giveaway.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I’d love to try the Pork Chops with Cherry Sauce–Yummo!
dolniaks[at]consolidated[dot]net
The Cherry Granola Bread sounds really good. I’m saving the site so I can try the recipe.
My favorite is cherry granola bread.
Cherry-Banana Raisin Bread Pudding – all my favorites in one!
rachelschmidt at gmail dot com
Now if I could keep cherries around long enough to put in a recipe….I seem to snack them up so quickly. So many recipes look really good, but I would probably pick the Cherry Pecan Energy Bars first. Thanks.
I like the recipe for cherry-nectarine salsa
I think the Super Berry Shortbread sounds scrumptious!
The cherries would be great to cook with!
would love to try oatmeal cherry cookies!!
Whole Wheat Cherry Scones recipe is my pick!
Pork Medallions with Cherry sauce
The cherry cornbread looks good.
I really like the Cherry Biscotti
Cherry Chili sounds really interesting!
I would like to try making the Champion Cherry Bars.
I would love to try the Cherry Rice Pilaf. Thanks for the fantastic giveaway!
If I win, is there any chance we can scrap the trinkets and just send $300 worth of dried cherries instead? I love ‘em but they’re expensive (like $12 per pound here – I pay less than half that for Prime Rib!)!! Anyway, I love to eat them straight up, but I guess I could try some trail mix or something
Cherry Chicken Salad yumm!
I want to try the Sweet Potatoes with Cherry Glaze recipe.
I want to try the Chocolate-Cherry Buttermilk Scones recipe!
Cherry Creme Brulee! Be still, my heart!
What a nice prize pack.
I would try the Super Berry Shortbread
The Mango Cherry Avocado Salad recipe looks delicious. I’d love to try this refreshing recipe this summer.
Cherry Chicken Salad sounds good to me! Fingers crossed! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
What wonderful recipes on this site! I’ve just printed out the Triple Threat Scones with Orange Drizzle to try out on my kids next weekend!
pork chops with cherry sauce sounds yummy.
All the recipes sound delicious but I’d like to try the Cherries Creme Brulee first.
Cherry cornbread sounds the best to me.
They all sound yummy especially the Very Cherry Crunch Cake!
The Carrots With Character recipe sounds like a nice way to spice up carrots. Thanks!
I like the Cherry Tiramisu
macd9900 at gmail dot com
I would love to make the Thyme Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cherries, thanks!
The Cherry Buttermilk Scones sound delicious!
My fav. would be the Cherry Jam recipe… http://www.choosecherries.com/recipes/Cherry_Jam_690.aspx
Spiced Cherry Popcorn Mix sounds great!
Cherry chili, yummmmmmm-o.
Spiced Cherry Popcorn Mix
I’d like to try the Oatmeal Cherry Cookies.
The Cherry Chocolate Recovery Drink sounds so yummy. I might at some Three Olives Cherry for a little extra kick too.
Thank you!
I will really have to try the Cherry Oatmeal Muffins for my kids. Sounds like a yummy treat for breakfast.
Confetti Couscous Salad with Dried Cherries! Oh my, that sounds wonderful!
Mmm…pork medallions with cherry sauce.
Cherry Nut Spread sounds delish!
I like the Chocolate Cherry recovery drink.
Pork Chops with Cherry Sauce sounds delicious!
id love to try the Cherry Butternut Squash Stuffing
I want to try the Pork Chops with Cherry Sauce.
The Cherry Trail mix is awesome! I saw it from here and I made it and it’s great!
Like the Cherry Cornbread recipe …. something I will try!
Cherry oatmeal muffins sound great!!!
I like the Cherry Creme Brulee. Thanks
I bet the Tangy Cherry Tea Sorbet tastes amazing!
The red rustic tart sounds delish…and I just may prepare this when I am in Northern Michigan next week for the TC Cherry Festival! (that is, if we survive the 3 day road trip from San Antonio!)
I love trying new salads lately, so the Curried Chicken Salad sounds perfect!
Oatmeal Cherry Cookies sound healthy but still really good.
Triple Threat Scones with Orange Drizzle
Cherries are my favirite fruit and I have arthritis so this would be wonderful to try and see how it works.
I think the Cherry Pecan Energy Bars sound great!
Cherry Bran muffins sound mmmmm-mmmmm good!!
I’d like trying Chocolate-Cherry Buttermilk Scones
xbeautifulcoma at yahoo dot com
I’d love to try the “Cherry Butternut Squash Stuffing ” The picture looks yummy! Thanks.
I would like to try the Chocolate-Cherry Buttermilk Scones
I like the classic cherry pie.
mizztuts[AT]bellsouth[DOT]net
I checked out ChooseCherries.com and I would like to try the ‘Triple Threat Scones with Orange Drizzle’!
Very Cherry Crunch Cake is my favorite.
My fave is the Cherry Smart Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting.
Wow the Cherry Biscotti look awesome. I would love to win this. Thank you.
Thanks for the giveaway…the Oatmeal Cherry Cookies have piqued our interest !
Double Cherry Pie sounds yummy!
The Double Cherry Pie is my favorite.
Very Cherry Crunch Cake
Hello, Mango Cherry Avocado Salad! I love all three things in the title, so I can just imagine how yummy the whole thing is!
My favorite recipe is the Super Fruit Cobbler.I think this would be a great
dessert for the family
I’d like to try the Cherry-Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas . Thanks for the contest.
One of my favorites is Multi-Grain Cherry Pilaf . Sounds tasty and very healthy!
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
The recipe for Thyme Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cherries sounds wonderful.
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