Sharing cuisine is very romantic. A bowl of steamed mussels is delightful to share. Classic Chateaubriand is for two or more. Sharing the moment can also be enjoyed with fondue, soufflé, plat de fruits de mer, boiled snow crabs and Baked Alaska. In my opinion, one of the most romantic cities in America is Traverse City, Michigan. This quaint fishing community sits on the banks of beautiful Lake Michigan and offers bonding settings in all four seasons. The area also offers schooner and sailing excursions on the Lake, fine dining and interesting shopping. Traverse City is nestled into a bay and sits in a picturesque backdrop of cherry groves and stunning deciduous forests. My frequent visits since childhood have inspired Kelly’s Cherry Pie – a favorite Valentine for sharing.
Kelly’s Cherry Pie
Prepare and double the recipe of your favorite pie crust. Prepare the pie shell and (lightly) pre-bake it without pricking the bottom. (Use bean weights.) For the filling, I prefer pitted fresh cherries but unfortunately Valentine’s Day is a little early for the season. If you have access to fresh cherries, 6 cups are recommended with 2 cups of sugar. If fresh cherries are not available, the substitute would be 5 – 15 oz. (drained)cans of Bing cherries. In a saucepan, simmer an 18 oz. jar of blackberry jelly and 1/2 cup of Chambord liqueur. Add 1 tablespoon of flour (diluted before adding to the mixture.) Simmer until the temperature reaches 200°F and is syrup like. Add the cherries and continue heating for 3 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon. Quickly and carefully fold the hot filling into the pre-cooked pie crust. Design the lattice work with the crust topping and bake for about 35 minutes at 375°F until the top is brown. It is delicious and so good that you might not want to share…Happy Valentine’s Day! © Kelly McBride Loft