Chokecherry time's a-comin'

In the current Lake Country Journal Magazine, writer Sheri Davich highlights the fun and history of chokecherries and the Pequot Lakes annual Chokecherry Festival. (July/August 2009, p. 66).

Since the fruit is plentiful, grows in the wild, and can be used to make everything from jelly and syrup to pies and pudding, I did a quick Internet search to collect some recipes. Enjoy!

• The Kiowa Conservation District in Colorado offers several chokecherry favorites, including jam, apple butter, and three recipes for syrup variations.

• My favorite recipes, though, were discovered by Uncle Phaedrus, Consulting Detective & Finder of Lost Recipes. This site contains recipes for chokecherry crown rolls, cordial pie, even something called foam pudding.

So gather up your ingredients and start your ovens. Who knows? You might win the Lions Club's culinary chokecherry contest. Save the date—Saturday, August 15 at Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes.

It's chokecherry heaven!