When life gives you cherries...

make some cherry juice!

There is a nanking cherry tree that grows over our fence and our neighbour encourages me to pick whatever I can reach. Today I picked about 10 cups of fruit and boiled up some delicious juice. This is very similar to making jelly, but much easier to use up in our house.


Nanking Cherry Juice
8-10 cups nanking cherries
water to cover
1-2 cups sugar to taste

Wash fruit and put in a large pot. Add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer until fruit is soft, approximately 10 minutes. Strain through cheesecloth into a pitcher or another pot. Add 1 cup of sugar per 4 cups of juice, or less if you want it more tart. (I used 1 cup of sugar for about 6 cups of juice.)

Drink straight or mix half and half with ginger ale or lemon lime pop. Also nice with vodka.