There is an old joke about deciding
what to eat on February 14th...
what to eat on February 14th...
Question:
"Honey, what are you making for Valentine's Day?"
"Honey, what are you making for Valentine's Day?"
Answer:
"Reservations."
Whether you're making reservations or a seven course meal, I have an insanely easy recipe for your consideration. It has very few calories; is absolutely delicious; and makes a fun, after-dinner sweet to serve with coffee, tea, or liqueurs.
And if you're not celebrating Valentine's Day, even better because these mock chocolate-covered cherries make a fantastic cheer-me-up treat any evening of the year. In fact, I ought to call these "Chocolate Cheeries"—and you're about to see why...
Cleo Coyle has a partner in
crime-writing—her husband.
Learn about their books
|
Cleo's Mock
Chocolate Cherries (Cheeries?)
I've made traditional chocolate-covered
cherries in the past, and even published a
recipe for the classic candy. (You can find
it in book #8 of our Coffeehouse Mysteries, Holiday Grind.)
cherries in the past, and even published a
recipe for the classic candy. (You can find
it in book #8 of our Coffeehouse Mysteries, Holiday Grind.)
This recipe came about during my testing for
the Black Forest Brownies in our newest entry, Once Upon a Grind.
the Black Forest Brownies in our newest entry, Once Upon a Grind.
Black Forest Brownies from the recipe section of Once Upon a Grind: A Coffeehouse Mystery |
During the recipe testing, I soaked cherries in various alcohols and liqueurs to see how the results would taste. In the end, I settled on traditional Kirsch (cherry brandy) or white rum for the Black Forest Brownies. And that recipe will work with fresh or frozen cherries as well as maraschino.
During those recipe tests, I was surprised to discover that soaking maraschino cherries in crème de cacao creates a pretty darn delicious mock chocolate covered cherry.
My husband, Marc, was skeptical. He didn't believe they would taste like a chocolate cherry. But he's a believer now...
Ingredients:
1 Jar Maraschino Cherries (with stems)
Crème De Cacao
Directions: Open the jar of cherries and drain all the liquid, keeping the cherries intact and inside the jar. Pour the crème de cacao into the jar until the cherries are covered. Seal the jar and store in the refrigerator for 24 hours. The "cheeries" are now ready to cheer you up.
Be sure to label the jar, especially if the grandkids are coming over. Spiked cherries on a hot fudge sundae sounds pretty darn amazing to me, but it's probably not a good idea for a five-year-old.
Finally, if you are not making reservations and plan to cook a delicious meal this weekend, the crime-writing cooks of Mystery Lover' Kitchen have got you covered in our new Valentine's Day Page. You're bound to find something that tempts you into the kitchen—if not this particular weekend, then another, no doubt.
Happy
Valentine's Day!
Stay cozy!
~ Cleo Coyle
New York Times bestselling author of
New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries
* * *
Once Upon a Grind:
A Coffeehouse Mystery
A Coffeehouse Mystery
* A Best Book of the Year
Reviewer's Pick - King's River Life
* Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews
* Fresh Pick ~ Fresh Fiction
* A Mystery Guild Selection
Reviewer's Pick - King's River Life
* Top Pick! ~ RT Book Reviews
* Fresh Pick ~ Fresh Fiction
* A Mystery Guild Selection
Delicious recipes are also featured in my 14th
culinary mystery, Once Upon a Grind, including...
* Black Forest Brownies
* Cappuccino Blondies
* Shrimp Kiev
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings
* Poor Man's Caviar
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways
...and many more recipes, including
a guide to reading coffee grinds...
Delicious recipes are also featured in my 14th
culinary mystery, Once Upon a Grind, including...
* Black Forest Brownies
* Cappuccino Blondies
* Shrimp Kiev
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings
* "Fryer Tuck's" Ale-Battered Onion Rings
* Poor Man's Caviar
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaways
...and many more recipes, including
a guide to reading coffee grinds...
a guide to reading coffee grinds...
* * *
Marc and I also write
The Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries
The Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries
Get a free title checklist,
with mini plot summaries,
by clicking here.
Or learn more about the
books and meet Jack Shepard,
our PI ghost by clicking here.
with mini plot summaries,
by clicking here.
Or learn more about the
books and meet Jack Shepard,
our PI ghost by clicking here.
OMG! I can eat those maraschino cherries right out of the jar---now with adding the cream de cacoa I'll be addicted to them.!
ReplyDeleteSue, we love maraschino cherries around here, too. We’ve also discovered that the happier the maraschinos are, the happier we are. Thank you for sharing your love of the bright red cherry in the sweet syrupy sauce!
Delete~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
What a fun idea, Cleo! Love those Valentine kitties, too!
ReplyDeleteWe love our Valentine kitties, too, Krista, though I have to confess they are not always such picture-perfect angels. Did I just hear a crash?!?
Delete~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
Can't wait to try the no-guilt chocolate cherries and LOVE the kitty picture! Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day to you, Patricia. And I hope everyone here at Mystery Lovers' Kitchen gets that perfect Valentine, too.
Delete~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
Those cherries sound very cheery! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThese cheery cherries are a great way to cheer up a chilly cheerless winter evening. Ciao, Elaine, and thank you for stopping by.
Delete~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com
Great idea! Especially for those of us who don't cook!
ReplyDeleteThat's the beauty of happy cherries. No muss, no fuss! Thank you so much for dropping in, Heather.
Delete~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
www.CleoCoyleRecipes.com