Chocolate covered cherries 2.0, from Dani

Chocolate covered cherries 2.0

2pts heavy whipping cream
1 can cherry pie filling
Chocolate syrup
Cocoa powder

Combine the whipping cream and chocolate syrup in a large bowl. Beat on high/medium-high for a minute or two and then add a tablespoon of cocoa powder and continue to beat until you've got whipped cream. Stick it in the freezer to chill. Heat the pie filling until it bubbles and then spoon some of it into a bowl and put the chocolate mousse over the top. A little bit of the mousse will kinda melt into the cherries because they're hot, but that just makes it even better.

Cranberry and Dried-Cherry Sauce, and idea from Jenifer

From Bon Appetit 2002
1 12 oz container cranberry juice cocktail, thawed
1 c water
1 c packed golden brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick broken in half
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1 6 oz package dried tart cherries
1 12 oz package cranberries

Bring first 5 ingredients to boil in heavy medium saucepan over med-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add cherries; cook 2 minutes. Add cranberries; cook until berries pop, stirring occasionally- about 9 minutes. Transfer to bowl and chill overnight- discard cinnamon. Serve at room temp.

Can be made a week in advance

Fresh Cherry Salad with Melon and Mint, by Jenifer

1/2 sm cantaloupe cubed (no seeds or skin please; 1/2" size)

1/4 honeydew cubed (1/2" size)

1/4 c minced fresh mint (and mint for garnish)

2 tlb. honey

1 tlb lemon juice

1 1/2 c. cherries (pitted)

Juice of two limes

~Put cantaloupe, honeydew& mint in bowl- turn several times to mix.

~Mix honey into lemong juice until it dissovles (1-2 minutes) Pour over melons and turn several times.

~Add cherries, turning them in

~pour lime juice over all, garnish and serve

Serves about 6