Ingredients:

1/2     cup fresh or frozen tart cherries, pitted
1/2     cup 1% low fat milk
1/4     cup plain low fat yogurt
2         Tbsp fresh or frozen blueberries
1         Tbsp FruitFast Montmorency Cherry Juice Concentrate
1         Tbsp honey
1/2     tsp pure vanilla extract
Sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)
8         ice cubes

Garnish:
1          Tbsp slivered toasted almonds
1          Tbsp chopped Brownwood Acres Dried Tart Cherries

Directions:
Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour into two chilled glasses.
Garnish with almonds and dried cherries.

Serve immediately.

Yield:  2 servings

Ingredients:
1-1/3 cups buttermilk
1 cup old-fashioned oats
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
FruitFast MixedBerry or CherryFlex Liquid
Fresh raspberries, cherries or blueberries

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine milk and oats; let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in eggs and oil. Combine the flour, baking powder, brown sugar and salt; stir into oat mixture just until moistened.

Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes. Cook until second side is lightly browned. Serve warm with drizzled FruitFast MixedBerry or CherryFlex Liquids and fresh berries.

Yield: 10 pancakes.

Ingredients:

1          (8 oz.) carton low fat vanilla yogurt
1/3      cup Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries
4          Tbsp FruitFast Cherryflex or FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Supplements
1          ripe banana, sliced
2/3      cup Nature’s Hand granola (your choice of FruitFast flavors)

Directions:

Combine yogurt and dried cherries; mix well.  Layer half of the yogurt mixture, half of the banana slices, half of the Liquid Fruit Supplements, and half of the granola into 2 parfait or wine glasses.  Repeat layering once with remaining yogurt mixture, banana slices and granola.

Tip: The parfaits may be served immediately or chilled before serving.

Yield:  2 servings

I have found just that in a healthy creation now offered by FruitFast that’s 100% natural without any preservatives, artificial flavors, coloring or added salt.  FruitFast’s new Granola, made by Nature’s Hand, is sweetened with brown sugar and honey and comes in seven delicious flavors and can be ordered at www.fruitfast.com.  So far, my favorite is Coconut Cashew.

What I particularly like is the quality of ingredients from a company that’s been making granola for 40 years and has the drill down pat.  Plus there’s so much you can do with our new granola, besides enjoying it right out of the package.

Try FruitFast Nature’s Hand Granola in this tasty cookie recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt, optional
1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 cup FruitFast Nature’s Hand Coconut Cashew Granola
1/2 cup Brownwood Acres Dried Cherries
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Blend together butter and sugars until creamy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.  Blend in vanilla.  Add flour, baking powder, soda and salt; stir until combined.  Stir in oats, granola, dried cherries and chocolate pieces.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are brown and center is soft.  Let cool a few minutes on pan.  Remove from pan; cool completely.

Yield:  about 48 cookies

Baked Blueberry French Toast with Blueberry Syrup Recipe

Ingredients:
Toast:
1     baguette
5     large eggs
2-3/4     cups milk (can substitute skim milk)
1/2     tsp cinnamon
1     tsp vanilla
1     cup brown sugar, divided
1     cup pecans
1/2    stick + 1 tsp butter
2-1/2     cups fresh blueberries, divided

Directions:
The night before serving, cut baguette into 1″ rounds (approx 18-20 pieces) and place in buttered 13 X 9 pan.  In large bowl whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and 3 /4 cup brown sugar.  Pour over sliced baguette, cover, and chill at least 8 hrs.

In the morning toast pecans on cookie sheet in 350* oven — about 6 minutes then toss in pan with 1 tsp butter.  While pecans are toasting cut 1/2 stick butter into pieces in small saucepan and heat with remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar till butter is melted.   Increase oven to 400* – sprinkle 2 cups blueberries and pecans over bread mixture, drizzle butter and brown sugar mixture over blueberries and bake 20-25 minutes.

Ingredients:
Syrup:
1/2     cup fresh blueberries
1/4     cup maple syrup
1    Tbsp FruitFast MixedBerry Liquid Fruit Supplement
1     tsp lemon juice

Directions:
While toast is cooking place blueberries and syrup into small saucepan and cook about 5 minutes or until berries have burst (help them along by mashing them with a fork!). Press the berries through a sieve into small pitcher, pressing on solids, and add lemon juice and MixedBerry Liquid, stir to combine.  Pour over French toast.

Yield:  6-8 servings

There are other ways to utilize maple syrup. The syrup can be baked in candies, cookies and desserts.  Check out these other uses for maple syrup previously posted in my recipe blog:  Carrots with Character and Cherry Almond Oatmeal.  Here are three more recipes that incorporate your fresh, homemade maple syrup.

Hot Cherry Drink
This fun beverage adapted from a recipe found in the Winter 2009 edition of “edible Grand Traverse” magazine combines the best of Northern Michigan— maple syrup and cherries.

Ingredients:
2    cups boiling water
4    tsp FruitFast Montmorency Cherry Juice Concentrate, or
4    tsp FruitFast CherryFlex Liquid Fruit Supplement
2    tsp pure maple syrup (or to taste)
6    drops almond extract (add last as extract evaporates quickly)
2    oz cherry brandy or other brandy (optional)

Directions:
Pour the boiling water into two mugs.  Add cherry concentrate or CherryFlex Liquid, and remaining ingredients.  Serve and enjoy!

Yield:  2 servings

Cherry Maple Syrup Recipe

For a super tasty breakfast syrup (over pancakes, waffles, or French toast) try this chunky treat adapted from a recipe found on homecooking.about.com.

Ingredients:
2    oranges
2    lemons
1-1/2    cups pure maple syrup
1    cup packed brown sugar
1/2    cup honey
1     cup Brownwood Acres Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries, chopped
2     Tbsp butter
1/2    tsp ground cinnamon
1/4     tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Directions:
Zest 1 tsp from one of the oranges and 1 tsp from one of the lemons and set aside.  Juice both the oranges and lemons and set aside.  In a medium saucepan, combine the juices, zest, maple syrup, brown sugar and honey.  Over medium-high heat, bring mixture to a boil stirring often.  Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 10 minutes.  Stir in the dried cherries, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg and simmer an additional 2 minutes.  Optional:  Strain mixture for a smoother, less chunky syrup.

Serve over the following pancake recipe.

Yield:  2 cups

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes

Ingredients:
3/4    cups bread flour
3/4    cups whole-wheat flour
3     Tbsp sugar
1/4     Tbsp salt
2-1/2     tsp baking powder
1     tsp baking soda
1     Tbsp pure maple syrup
1     large egg
1     cup buttermilk
3/4     cup low-fat milk
2-1/2     Tbsp canola oil

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine flours, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda; set aside.  In a medium bowl, combine maple syrup, egg, buttermilk and milk; mix well.  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mix until smooth.

Coat a griddle or large sauté pan, lightly, with oil and heat over medium heat.  Ladle batter on griddle or in the sauté pan and cook until bubbles form.  Flip the pancakes and cook until golden brown.

Yield:  6 servings

We thank Lucille and Ben for this great contribution to our recipe blog.

Ingredients:

1 large banana, mashed (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup chunky natural peanut butter
or regular chunky peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup regular rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup non-fat dry milk powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup Brownwood Acres Dried Montmorency Tart Cherries

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly coat two cookie sheets with cooking spray; set aside.  In a large bowl stir together banana, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla.  In a small bowl combine oats, flour, milk powder, cinnamon, and baking soda.  Stir the oat mixture into the banana mixture until combined.  Stir in dried cherries.

Using a 1 /4 cup measure, drop mounds of dough 3 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.  With a thin metal or small plastic spatula dipped in water, flatten and spread each mound of dough to a 2-3 /4 inch round about 1 /2 inch thick.

Bake, one sheet at a time, for 14 to 16 minutes or until browned.  Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container or re-sealable plastic bag for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to two months.  Thaw before serving.

Yield: 12 servings

Banana Split Smoothie

This tastes so much like a banana split.  Adding a little crushed ice makes it super cold and you it tastes like a banana split.  I LOVE this one !!!

1 cup frozen sweet cherries
1 Tbsp FruitFast Montmorency Cherry Liquid Fruit Supplement
1 small banana
1 cup chocolate soy milk (or enough to just cover the ingredients)
Crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend well.  ENJOY!!!
Yield:  2 servings

Substitutes:

1 cup berries (your choice, strawberry, blueberries, raspberries, or any combo)
1 Tbsp FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Supplement
1 cup non-fat chocolate milk

Pomegranate and Raspberry Smoothie

1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
2 Tbsp lemon juice
4 Tbsp FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Juice (Place 4 Tbsp concentrate in a measuring cup—fill with water to make 1 cup)
2 small bananas
Crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend well.  Add a Tbsp FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Liquid Fruit Supplement or FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Supplement to boost the health factor in these tasty treats.
Yield:  4 servings

Raspberry Smoothie

1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 carton (6 oz) raspberry yogurt (regular or soy)
1-2 Tbsp FruitFast Red Raspberry Juice Concentrate (Place 1-2 Tbsp concentrate in a measuring cup—fill with water to make 1/2 cup)

Combine all ingredients in a blender.  Blend until smooth.   Again, FruitFast Liquid Fruit Supplements can be added for an additional healthy boost.
Yield:  2 servings

Variations:  substitute vanilla, lemon, lime or even peach yogurt.  Substitute FruitFast Wild Blueberry, Cranberry or Grape juice for the raspberry juice concentrate.

Cherry Smoothie

1-2 Tbsp FruitFast Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate (Place 1-2 Tbsp concentrate in a measuring cup—fill with water to make 1/2 cup)
1 carton (6 oz) non- or low-fat frozen vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup frozen pitted cherries
Ice cubes

Combine in a blend in a blender.
Yield: 2 servings

Variations:  Add 1 Tbsp FruitFast CherryFlex Liquid Fruit Supplement for an added healthy boost.   Use cherry yogurt for a triple cherry blast.

Pomegranate Strawberry Smoothie

1-2 Tbsp FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Concentrate (Place 1-2 Tbsp concentrate in a measuring cup—fill with water to make 1/2 cup)
1 carton (6 oz) non-fat yogurt
1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
Crushed ice cubes

Combine ingredients in a blender.
Yield:  2 servings

Variations:  Add Wonderful Pomegranate Liquid Fruit Supplement or FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Supplement for an extra healthy boost.   Substitute strawberry non-fat yogurt for extra berry flavor.

Strawberry Peach or Nectarine Smoothie

1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 cup chopped fresh or frozen peaches or nectarines
1 carton (6 oz) vanilla, or peach flavored yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
1 Tbsp FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Supplement
1 Tbsp honey (optional) for a sweeter smoothie add an additional 1-2 Tbsp.
Crushed ice

Combine ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth.
Yield:  1 serving

Breakfast Shakes;

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  No time, smoothies are a quick fix to this problem.  Helpful hint:  Measure ingredients the night before and keep them on the same shelf in the refrigerator so you can grab, blend and go!!!  Try these wonderful pomegranate morning shakes, or create your own.  Add protein powder or flax seed for additional benefits.   These make great morning breakfast for the little ones, as well.   What a delicious way to give them part of their five fruits a day.  The wonderful part about smoothies is you can add just about anything—carrots or spinach even.  Experiment with different flavors and soon smoothies will be your go-to on the go meal, or snack.

Pomegranate Morning On the Go Shake

1 Tbsp FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Concentrate (Place 1 Tbsp concentrate in a measuring cup—fill with water to make 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup low-fat milk, or regular or vanilla soy milk
1 large banana
2 Tbsp sliced or slivered almonds
1 tsp honey
1 Tbsp Wonderful Pomegranate Liquid Fruit Supplement (optional)
Crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and put in a plastic cup; enjoy on your morning commute.
Yield:  1 serving

Pomegranate Blueberry Smoothie

1 Tbsp FruitFast Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Concentrate (Place 1 Tbsp concentrate in a measuring cup—fill with water to make 1/2 cup)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 carton (6 oz) non-fat blueberry yogurt
1 Tbsp Wonderful Pomegranate Liquid Fruit Supplement or FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Supplement for additional boost (optional)
Crushed ice

Combine ingredients in a blender;  blend until smooth.
Yield:  1 serving

Variations:  Use soy blueberry or vanilla yogurt.  Add a banana.

Here is our good-luck, morning get-you-out-the-door smoothie.  It takes only minutes to prepare and can be put in a to-go cup for an on-the-go breakfast or snack.

Combine pomegranate juice with a little FruitFast Mixed  Berry Liquid for an extra healthy boost to your New Year.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup FruitFast Pomegranate Juice Concentrate (Place 1 to 2 Tbsp concentrate ina mearuing cup – fill with water to make 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup vanilla low-fat yogurt, or soy yogurt
3/4 cup frozen mixed berries
1 Tbsp FruitFast Mixed Berry Liquid Fruit Concentrate

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender, cover and blend until pureed.
Yield: 1 serving

Everyone claims to be too busy to cook so finding recipes and incorporating more fruit into your diet can be challenging and time consuming. My goal for 2009 is to offer you flavorful recipes that do not take too much time to prepare and add the wonderful benefits of fruit. Remember, our motto at FruitFast is to give you your five fruits a day—FAST.

Some very simple ways to incorporate more fruit in your diet is to pour any of the FruitFast Liquid Fruit Supplements over oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream, or low-fat pound cake—add a teaspoon or two to smoothies, coffee, or tea. Spread a teaspoon on whole wheat toast, English muffins, or a bagel. And of course, you can always pour the liquid onto a spoon and pop it into your mouth—they are so-o-o very delicious on their own.

Add dried cherries or blueberries to any of your standard recipes; they are always a welcome addition. If you have found an interesting, delicious ways to incorporate dried fruit, the liquid fruit supplements, or any of our FruitFast Juice Concentrates to your recipes, we would love to hear from you and post them on our recipe page. Give us your feedback and let us know how we are doing.

From our house to yours—Have a Wonderful and Healthy New Year!!!