Jackpot!

Do you ever play old-school slot machines? You know, the ones with the lever you pull rather than the button you push to make the magic happen. Exciting! 

Mmmmm. Tart Cherries!

Well, I'm beginning to understand why there was only one fruit in the game.

Strawberries? Nope!

Pineapple? Nope!

Apples? Nope!

Of course, you've already guessed, it's cherries. Why? Simple. Because the search for the cherry is one of the most invigorating hunts in the world. Think about it. Flushing birds out and shooting them out of the sky? Meh. Being really quiet in a small stand up in a tree all day long waiting for one deer to come along so that you can kill Bambi? Whatevs. Letting dogs loose to run around the woods trying to scare a bear up into a tree and then shooting the bear? Lame. 

Now, hunting for tart cherries during a season in which the weather nearly decimated the entire crop, that's pretty exhilarating. Now try hunting for cherries a full 2.5 hours south of Door County, Wisconsin. Yes, Door County isn't just the place where my best friend's parents own the best little jewelry store in the world, it's also the home of tart cherries. Last week, I was told by 10am that the entire tart cherry crop had been sold out for that week. At another Farmer's Market, I was told there simply wouldn't be any tart cherries this year. Sad.

Special thanks to:Door County Fruit Markets
6421 Hwy 42
Egg Harbor, WI  54209
920-743-7434

This morning, I went back to the stand that ran out early and followed the woman's advice: "Son, if you want to make your cherry bounce this year, you have to get here early next week."

So last night, I didn't go out with friends. I didn't drink, save for a glass of wine with my dinner. (What? It's been a long week. Stop judging me!) I just went to bed early. My alarm woke me up so early I was still yawning on the way to the Farmer's Market. But it was all worth it. 

Here's my $60 haul!

Peaking out over the rising sun (not really) with slow build up music playing on my iPod (not really), there it was... the cherry stand. And when the woman told me that I got there early enough to buy tart Door County cherries, I shrieked like a 13-year-old girl at a Justin Bieber concert (on the inside. no really, i swear, I didn't shriek in public. Well, okay. Maybe just a little bit...).

I know it's been since my birthday since my last post, but hold onto your britches. I've got raspberry and a summer berry mix in the hopper and I'm about to dazzle you with cherry bounce (my all time favorite). So, stay tuned to your email if you are a subscriber. And if you're not? Hey, there's no better time to subscribe than the present. 

In the meantime, go grab some tart cherries or go visit my surrogate parents' store and hit an orchard to pick your own. Stay tuned,  I'll talk you through how to turn your tart cherries into deliciousness very soon!

Cheers,

Craig