There are few things more wonderful than opening Christmas presents (or watching the kids open theirs) while enjoying a warm, delicious breakfast. Of course, avoiding a mess is nice, too. That’s why we love this fast and simple recipe for delicious Buttermilk and Cherry Scones. They’re especially tasty with Chukar’s Red Sour Cherry or Raspberry Cherry Preserves!

Buttermilk and Dried Cherry Scones

Ingredients:

Directions:Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, dried cherries, and lemon zest. Cut in butter until it is in pea-sized pieces. Quickly stir in the buttermilk and turn onto floured board. Knead dough until it just comes together, about 3 to 5 minutes. Divide dough into 3 balls and flatten to 1-inch thick. Beat egg and 1 tablespoon water and brush over dough. Score into quarters with a knife. Place the rounds on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Yields 12 scones.

We mentioned before how much we love decorating with Chukar dried fruits and nuts, but we also love decorating with our chocolates. Today we’ll show you a little of both:

Berry and Pistachio Sprinkles

Ingredients:

-Your favorite sugar cookie recipe

-1 8oz bag Berry & Pistachio Mix, chopped

-Your favorite frosting (or ours)

Preparation

Bake cookies according to recipe, let cool and frost. Before frosting sets, sprinkle chopped Berry & Pistachio mix over frosting.

Let set 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!

Raspberry Truffle Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients:

-Your favorite sugar cookie recipe

-1 8oz. bag Chukar White Chocolate Raspberry Truffles

Preparation

Prepare cookies according to recipe. Press 1 Raspberry Truffle into the center of each cookie 1-2 minutes before cookies finish baking. Enjoy as is, or frost with simple sugar frosting around Truffle center.

Hosting guests during the Holidays is stressful. Hosting unexpected guests during the Holidays can be traumatic. After years of scrambling to find extra food and last-minute gifts, we’ve discovered a few easy tricks for taking the stress out of the unexpected:

Prepare and freeze hearty winter soups ahead of time.

Hearty soups leave every guest satisfied. We always make and freeze some ahead of time, just in case we have extra mouths to feed. Particularly suited for the job is our Butternut Squash Soup with Dried Bing Cherries.

Keep ingredients on hand for quick, filling sides

We always have a few bags of dried Bing Cherries and long grain wild rice on hand for our quick and easy Dried Cherry Wild Rice side. It goes great with anything and fills up even the hungriest guest.

Always have a few extra small gifts

You never know who’s going to show up, so purchase a few small gift gifts that anyone can enjoy. Our favorite trick is to take apart on of our Hostess Gifts and wrap each 3 oz. box for 10 small gifts or stacks of 2 or more boxes tied with a bow for up to five larger gifts.

Most importantly, make sure all of your extra food and gifts can be enjoyed by anyone, including you! That way even if you don’t need the extras, you can treat yourself to some wholesome meals and Chukar goodies. Find more easy recipes and gifts at Chukar.com!

Excellent topping for pound cake, cheesecake, ice cream and waffles!

4 cups fresh Northwest Sweet Cherries, pitted and halved
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup water
1 package powdered fruit pectin

Combine cherries, sugar, corn syrup and lemon juice. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine water and pectin in a small saucepan. Bring to boiling and boil for 1 minute. Pour over cherry mixture. Stir until sugar completely dissolves; about 3–4 minutes. Pour cherry mixture into clean jars or freezer containers and cover tightly. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours. Store up to 3 weeks in a refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer. Yields about 5 cups.

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 ounces diced Pancetta (Italian Bacon)

2 ounces Chukar® Dried Tart Cherries

¼ cup Port wine

¾ cup sliced mushrooms

2-3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or to taste)

1 large bunch of spinach (washed, spun dry and chilled)

Soak dried cherries in ¼ cup port wine for about an hour, heat olive oil in 8” skillet. Add diced pancetta and sauté till done. Drain fat. Add vinegar, dried cherries & port wine. Swish around in pan to loosen pancetta drippings. Stir mushroom in to coat with mixture. Place spinach in large bowl. Pour heated mixture over spinach and toss.

This holiday season bring something new to your favorite recipes with the addition of natural foods and flavors that showcase the Pacific Northwest. Chukar Cherries, Washington state’s year ’round cherry and berry company™ is brimming with easy and unique northwest recipes and quick tips to add zest and something special to your holiday table.

Creative but simple variations to your classic dishes add a regional touch to the festivities and make an impression. Dried Chukar brand sweet or tart cherries from Washington State, the world’s number one producer of sweet cherries, are an unexpected winter taste treat. “You don’t have to deviate from your favorite recipe too much to get a regional taste, just add a few dried cherries or lightly spread some cherry sauces and you will get rave reviews” said Pam Montgomery, CEO and founder of Chukar Cherries.

To add a ‘cherry twist’ to your seasonal table, Montgomery recommends; “creating a Cherry Wine Sauce to top poached pears or baked apples, spice up your favorite stuffing recipe by adding a few dried cherry morsels for a tangy twist. Glaze your turkey with Chukar’s Cherry Chipotle BBQ Sauce sealing in the savory flavors for your main course. Chukar’s new Curried Cherry Chutney is a delicious side accompaniment to roast pork, chicken, turkey or lamb chops. Spiced Cider has an added punch with the addition of Chukar’s Cherry Apple Slices or naturally sweet Dried Bing Cherries simmering on top.”

Add flare to your baking with cherries to add color, texture and flavor. Chukar Cherries recommends adding them to homemade macaroons for an out of this world taste treat. Traditional cherry pie is done in a snap with Chukar’s whole fruit pie and cobbler fillings. Simply purchase a pre-made pie crust, add Chukar’s Triple Cherry Pie Filling chock full of Bing, Rainier, and Montmorency Tart Cherries, and viola, a truly outrageous pie.

Are Oatmeal Cookies your favorite? Mix classic oatmeal cookie dough and leave out the raisins. When you place the mounds of dough onto the cookie sheet lightly pad each one down and press 3-5 Chukar® White Chocolate Berry Truffles into each mound. (Note: Chukar’s White Chocolate Berry Truffles are chewy dried cranberries coated in white chocolate dusted in raspberry powder.) After baking, the dried cranberry stays moist and chewy, the white chocolate melts around it and the red raspberry powder sits on top for a delicious and festive presentation.

Pam recommends trying the recipe before the actual event. “It will add a measure of confidence and ease on the big day.” Visit www.chukar.com for recipes and quick tips to treat your family and friends with tastes and flavors that reflect our incredible region.

Located in the Pacific Northwest, Chukar Cherries is a family owned and operated specialty food manufacturer of pure fruit jams, savory sauces, dried fruit and nut energy snacks, naturally dried and chocolate-covered cherries, berries, and roasted nuts; the Best of Nature, Best of Chocolate®. Chukar creates delicious gifts that reflect the agricultural bounty and natural flavors of the Pacific Northwest. The boutique manufacturer operates three company owned retail locations within Washington State; Pike Place Market in Seattle, Corporate Headquarters in Prosser, Tri City Airport Gift Shop in Pasco. 100% Natural and certified kosher by KOF-K. For quality service, visit www.chukar.com or call 1.800.624.9544 and ask to speak with a Customer Service Representative.

• 1 cup CHUKAR® Dried Cherries, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 large eggs
• 1 -1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 tablespoons grated orange rind
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup hot water

Soak cherries in apple juice or water at least 10 min. Drain well.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together sugars and shortening until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and orange rind. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and rolled oats. Stir half into the sugar mixture, beating well. Add hot water and remaining flour-oat mixture. Mix in drained, chopped cherries.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto greased baking sheets.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 min., or until edges are golden brown.

Makes about 3 dozen 3-1/2 inch cookies.