Cherry Blossoms Recipes

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary. Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Chill until firm.
• Melt confectioners' coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip each cherry in by its stem, and place on waxed paper lined sheets. Chill until completely set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Best after 1 or 2 weeks.

SUNBURST CHERRY BLOSSOM PIE

Steps:

• For the Pie Crust:
• Place flour, salt and shortening in a bowl. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender until pea-sized pieces form. Add water and toss with a fork until mixture holds together. Refrigerate until chilled. Cut in half and roll out bottom crust to fit 9-inch pie pan. Roll top crust and cut spokes with serrated cutting wheel. Fold spokes to center and set aside.. Extra trim from crust may be use for cutting cherry blossoms.
• For the Cherry Blossoms:
• Roll out excess trimmings from crust. Cut of circles of pie dough to desired size with round cookie cutter. With knife, cut petals. Place dried cheery or half of thawed cherry in center of each blossom and bake on cookie sheet in a preheated 425 degrees F oven. Sprinkle with baking glitter, if desired.
• For the Filling:
• Drain cherries. Place in a glass mixing bowl and microwave until at least room temperature. Pour melted butter over cherries. Mix sugar, vanilla bean seeds and tapioca and add to bowl. Combine cherry juice concentrate, almond extract and food coloring. Pour over cherries and mix gently. Place in pie shell Unfold top crust and cover the filling. Crimp to seal edges. Brush with cream and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake at 425 degrees F for 50 minutes. Cover crust with foil when desired color appears. Remove pie from oven. Decorate with cherry blossoms and glaze.
• For the Glaze:
• Mix together powdered sugar and cream until a thin stream appears when the spoon is lifted from the bowl. Drizzle glaze over pie while still hot.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Place unsweetened chocolate in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Add butter; stir until butter is melted. Cool 10 minutes.
• Combine melted chocolate mixture, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 3/4 cups of flour, eggs and baking powder in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add remaining 3/4 cup of flour and dried cherries. Continue beating just until well mixed. Cover; refrigerate until firm. [1 hour].
• Heat oven to 300. Place 1/3 cup of sugar in small bowl. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until top is cracked and set.
• Immediately press 1 cherry chocolate kiss into each cookie. Remove to cool racks. Cool completely or until chocolate is set. [about 1 hour]. Store between sheets of waxed paper in container with tight-fitting lid for up to 5 days.

SALT CURED CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Since full blossom is missing the taste and aroma, it's best to pick the blossoms when they are about 1/2 to 2/3 open. Cut off blossoms making sure to keep some of the green stems (see picture).
• Using lots of water, soak the blossoms to wash. Several changes of water.
• Dry the blossoms completely. Lettuce spinner works really well here.
• Add 40g salt to the blossoms, salt the container and the layers of blossoms.
• Water will start to float up. Lightly squeeze the blossoms. If you have ume vinegar you will use ume vinegar next, but if you do not have ume vinegar, then do not discard the liquid from squeezing the blossoms because you will use this.
• Lightly spread out the blossoms. Straighten the blossoms and stems and place them carefully in the container. Pour in the ume vinegar or if you do not have the ume vinegar, the liquid remaining from squeezing out the blossoms. Place a stone or heavy object to pickle. Keep pickled for 1 week.
• After 1 week discard the liquid and spread the blossoms on flat bamboo or plastic container for drying (with holes for air) outside in the shade. Do not squeeze the blossoms because the aroma and taste will be gone if you squeeze too much. The final result should be somewhat damp blossoms and not dried out blossoms.
• Gather the blossoms and mix gently with 4 T salt and bottle. Keep in refrigerator - keeps for a long time.
• To use, remove the salt by soaking in water or gently washing in water first.