Life> no use

Little cherries have big burst of flavor

Updated: 2006-08-04 16:30

CHERRY CHICKEN WRAPS

1 1/2cups cooked brown rice

1 cup pitted, quartered fresh Rainier cherries

1 cup diced, cooked chicken breast

1/2 cup diced green bell peppers

1 tbsp. chopped shallots

Mustard Balsamic Dressing

Green leafy or iceberg lettuce

Mix brown rice, cherries, chicken, green peppers and shallots. Drizzle Mustard Balsamic Dressing over mixture and toss lightly until well mixed. Place 1/2 cup rice mixture in each leaf of lettuce. Fold stem end over mixture and roll into flute shapes. Serve to eat out of hand.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Mustard balsamic dressing: Combine 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp. each red wine vinegar and olive oil, 1 tsp. Dijon-style mustard,1/2 tsp. each salt and crushed dried thyme and 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper; mix well. Makes about 1/4 cup.

CHERRY SURPRISE BUNDLES

2 cups pitted, halved fresh sweet cherries

1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

24 sheets filo dough

2 tbsp. butter, melted

6 tbsp. whipped cream cheese

1 tbsp. milk

3 fresh sweet cherries, halved

Combine 2 cups cherries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, lemon peel and cinnamon; mix well. Cut sheets of filo dough into 8-inch square pieces. (Save remaining pieces of filo for another use.)

Keep filo covered with waxed paper and slightly damp dish towel. Working with 4 cut squares of filo at a time, brush each sheet with melted butter and stack with corner of each on the straight edge of the previous square. Place 1 tablespoon cream cheese in the center of each stack of filo. Top with 1/3 cup cherry mixture.

Brush outer edge of filo dough with milk. Gather edges and form a bundle. Squeeze filo toward center to close bundle. Place half a cherry in center of top. Place bundle on lightly oiled baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven 20 minutes or until browned and crisp.

Makes 6 servings.

SUMMER FRUIT SMOOTHIES

1 cup pitted fresh sweet cherries

1 cup fresh 1-inch peach or nectarine cubes

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

1 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients in a blender container. Blend mixture until smooth.

Makes 2 servings.