07/09/2007

Cook's Corner

'Very Cherry' Smorgasbord coming to Frankfort

The Frankfort United Methodist Women hold its third annual Very Cherry Smorgasbord on Thursday, July 19, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Every recipe served will include cherries, with a menu including pork loin with cherry glaze, cherry barbecue meatballs, cherry chicken casserole, beef in wine, salads and desserts.

Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children 4 to 12, with kids 3 and under admitted free. There are no advance ticket sales. For more information, call (231) 352-7427.

Meanwhile, the group shares one of the recipes that it will serve. It's from Stella (Gum) Mix, who got it from her friend, Margo Kalmas.

Margo's Cherry Glazed Almond Pork

• 1/2 c. dried cherries
• 1 c. (12 oz.) cherry preserves
• 2 T. light corn syrup
• 1/4 c. red wine vinegar
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1/4 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. nutmeg
• 1/4 c. slivered almonds
• 4 lb. rolled pork roast

Rub roast with salt and pepper. Place on rack in shallow baking pan. Roast uncovered in slow oven at 325° for two to two-and-a-half hours.

Combine all other ingredients in a saucepan, except almonds. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer for two minutes.

Toast almonds and add to sauce. When meat has roasted, pour half of the glaze over pork and return to oven for 30 minutes. Serve the rest at the table or use all of it on the roast.

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Pellston Market chef and owner Nancy Kelly will use the ideas gleaned from a recent producers' tour of Italy to present a Celebration of Italian Foods on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The celebration will feature in-store demos, capped off by an evening Italian feast for 100 under a tent. For information, call (231) 539-7100 or visit http://pellstonmarket.com.

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Tapawingo Chef Pete Peterson offers a taste of Spanish & Catalon cuisine and culture when he leads an upcoming tour of Spain. He'll also be participating in upcoming visits to Provence and Italy's Piedmont region. More information is available at www.italianhorizons.com.

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The Cherry Stop has opened the Cherry Pit Cafe inside its downtown Traverse City store. The old-fashioned soda fountain will be serving desserts, creme soda, cherry pie and other cherry items. Find out more at www.cherrystop.com.

If you are looking for a specific recipe, have a cooking dilemma — or have solved one and want to pass on what you learned; had good (or bad) luck with a food product; or have other information of interest to fellow cooks, please send it to: Cook's Corner, Traverse City Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685; call (231) 933-1452 or (800) 968-8273; or e-mail: kgibbons@record-eagle.com.