High Time for Summer Pies
I have to tell you a story…even though it is a little sad. The crop on my 3-year-old Montmorency Cherry Tree has been shaping up so nicely. Every day I’ve been going out to see it and decide if the cherries are at the peak. Now, we’re not talking about a lot of cherries as this is still a young tree that is just below my shoulders in height. Last year my prize crop was a handful a cherries. This year I just knew there would be enough for one full size pie baked in a 9″ shallow pie pan. All I needed would be 4 cups of cherries.
Late last week, I picked the ones that were ready…a bit over 1 cup. The night before last, I saw that the remaining cherries had ripened up and would be ready to harvest in the morning. It looked like there would be just enough to fill that pie pan. I headed out to pick them first thing yesterday morning and guess what? Apparently the crows decided that they were perfect, too! Not one of my beautiful ripe red cherries were left on my little tree. Lesson learned. I’ll be there early bird next year and won’t give them a chance to steal even one of my precious cherries.
You might enjoy reading this blogpost I wrote in 2011 about my love of pie cherries.
And here’s the recipe for the cherry pie that has won not only blue ribbons, but best of show, too!
Lemon Meringue Pie Virtual Workshop
Now, one more thing to share with you. I’ve added a Lemon Meringue Pie Virtual Workshop to the class offerings and registration just went live today. Here’s the link if you would like to join me in your own kitchen.I’ll be adding more virtual workshops soon and I’ll let you know when I do.
Be sure to harvest that fruit before the birds do!
Bummer! Birds love cherries.
Indeed they do!
My grandma used to have me hang pie tins and any distracting thing we could in her sour cherry tree in Michigan, trying to foil birds, 70 yrs ago. Never worked well, nor for my own tree in CA 40 yrs ago.
This year I did use my SR plums to (In Santa Rosa) make your plum pie! Yummy
OH, I’m so glad that they didn’t get your plums! I may try hanging old CD’s in there next time.
If I were to buy 4 cups of cherries at the farmers market would that be 2 quarts???
4 cups = 1 quart
8 cups = 2 quarts
16 cups = 1 gallon
Major bummer! Thankfully, no birds have found my montmorency cherry tree yet. Fingers crossed!
Lucky you!
There is a very old boysenberry patch on a friend’s property, and he has often invited me and another friend to help ourselves to the berries. We both love to bake and have enjoyed making pies, cobblers and even jam with them. They are a beautiful, large size around the beginning of summer, and that is also the time the crows decide the berries are ready for “picking”! Some years we beat the birds to the boysenberries, and some years they get to them before we do. We have tried hanging shiny, old cd’s throughout the patch, but they don’t seem to phase the birds. We just enjoy the berries when we can!!
“We just enjoy the berries when we can!!” Exactly!
Those pesky crows! I made your triple berry pie today, my husband LOVES your all butter crust! He raves every time and I’m not allowed to use any other crust recipe! Finding your book has turned me into a pie baker, can’t wait to do a virtual class.
I can’t wait to join you virtually at our baking counters!