I promise you we’re getting closer to that cherry slushy I keep promising you. I must confess, this whole idea of posting a series on cherries seemed like a good idea when I first started out. The problem is I get easily distracted by all the new finds at the farmers’ market each week. I’m also a little distracted after the past weekend’s festivities. Those of you who made it to Big Summer Potluck this weekend know what I’m talking about, and if you didn’t, then I’ve got some lovely people to introduce you to soon.

But back to the cherries, before the season ends.

This week’s theme for Summer Fest 2011 is…drum roll please…cherries! So not only do you get the joy of making this conserve, but you get a whole list of links for more cherry recipes too. It’s a win-win, when you think about it.

Oh, what is a conserve a few of you are asking, right? Don’t worry I had no clear idea either until I came across this recipe for strawberry conserve from the Canal House Cooking folks in the June issue of Bon Appetit—you know, the one with Gwyneth on the cover (and while I know there are naysayers, I for one, really love the direction Bon Appetit is going in editorially).

Again, though, back to the beloved cherries.

I’ve been playing a lot with this method of making conserves. In fact, I haven’t made a single jar of real jam since the start of strawberry season. The idea of simply slicing fruit, sprinkling it with sugar and letting it take a time out while the sugar slowly coaxes out the fruit’s natural juices is just too easy for words. Why, I ask, would I want to deal with jam making when my time and attention can be better spent on great new things like this?

Okay, maybe I haven’t abandoned my microwave jam method for good. Perhaps this is a just a phase, and I just need to get this obsession with making conserves out of my system. For now, there is no end in sight. I’ve put up jars of apricot-lemon thyme conserves, blueberry conserves, strawberry-rosemary conserves—and peaches are next in my path of conservation. Get it? Oh, nevermind. Just go buy some cherries, and make this conserve—slushies are in our future.

I promise.

This recipe is now available to paid subscribers on my site, Simmering.  Join thousands of other subscribers now for as little as $2.50/month. Use this link for a special 15% discount on annual subscriptions for being a loyal reader of In Jennie’s Kitchen (that’s only $25.50/year!).