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READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  Cherry Season in South Minneapolis posted by  c. a. on  Thu Jul 15 14:23 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Sat Aug 22 11:35 CST 2009 [RELATED] Got back just in time for cherry season. My two cherry trees in the back yard, one about 16 years old, and the other about 7 or 8 years old are having a banner season. It seems these trees have bumper crops every other year, and this is the year. The last time I was in Maine at the Photo Workshop, and the birds got all of them. These are the delightful pie cherries. The variety is "Meteor", a hybrid of the classic French Montmorcey variety, the gold standard. The trees stay fairly compact; short enough that I, at 5'9", can pretty much reach the top when on a talol, scary ladder. I always carry my cell phone in my pocket after the fall from the scaffolding, just in case I decide I need to fall off a ladder or something. The last 2 days have been occupied with picking and trying to preserve the cherries. I have given prodigious amounts of them away to my neighbors, one will make a cherry pie this weekend, and the other will make cherry jam. I figure that some of the final product will come my way. I amin a race against time with the birds who know a good thing when they see it. This morning there were 4 Blue Jays in the tree stuffing themselves. I don't mind sharing, and I make it a point to leave blemished fruit on the tree for them. Still, yesterday when I wa sup on the ladder in the top of the tree, there was a Jay on the other side of the tree cursing me the entire time I was picking. I haven't even gotten to the small tree which is perhaps even fuller than the more mature tree. It ripens a little later, so I have a few more days. Grackles are having at that tree. What to do with all these cherries. There is always freezing them. I have a food saver machine, so I can vacuum pack the frozen fruit. I have not as of yet, done that. Aside from what I am giving away, right now I am dehydrating them. I won a dehydrater in a dog event raffle. Raffles are ubiquitous at dog trials, especially flyball tournaments, They are a revenue raiser for the sponsoring team, and people that attend get a chance to win stuff they can use. Dehydrating seems to be a good thing because cherries have so much liquid in them anyway. I have been pitting all the cherries I have picked so far, and the act of stoning them gives off a lot of juice, which would be too much for a pie unless one adds a lot of tapioca. It also reduces the bulk of the fruit and concentrates the flavor. It will be so nice to have those cherries and be able to make a nice cherry sauce for a winter meat dish like good roasted pork or beef. I will also brandy and pickle some. To brandy cherries, one takes decent brandy or kirsch. For each pound of cherries you mix 2 cups of brandy or kirsch with 1/2 c granulated sugar, perhaps a little more if you are using sour cherries as I am. Cherries look and taste better if they are NOT pitted, and have part of the stem still on. The stones have a bit of a bitter almond flavor that enhances the taste. Add cherries to quart canning jars and pour the brandy/sugar mixture over. Cover and sotre in a cool part of the ktichen or cellar for a month, turning the jars daily to make sure the sugar is dissolved. Enjoy and eat. To Pickle cherries: 2# cherries 1 1/2 C sugar 4 1/4 C white wine vinegar 4 cloves 6 peppercorns Rinse, dry and pick over cherries, keeping only the unblemished ones. Prepare 8 1 pint jcanning jars and lids in boiling water according to instructions. Stir together the sugar, vinegar, cloves, and peppercorns in a non-reactive saucepan, bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Pour the hot syrup over the cherries, cover, and seal according to the manufacturer's instructions. Let sit for 2 minths in a cool, dark place before eating. After opening the jars, the cherries will keep refirgerated for i year. These are fabulous as an hors d'oeuvre with charcuterie. And lastly, my very favorite. this is a fabulous recipe from Verlet, a tiny pastry shop in Paris. It calls for fresh apricots, but i found that slightly dehydrated cherries word as well. Strictly fresh ones would throw off too much liquid. VERLET'S APRICOT TART (TARTE ABRICOT VERLET) Verlet is a tiny tea and coffee shop that also serves good homemade pastries. Anyone who loves apricots will love this simple, homey pie. Be sure to use fresh, not canned, apricots. For pastry 8 tablespoons (4 ounces; 12 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar 1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 1 1/4 cups plus 1 tablespoon (180 g) unbleached all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons finely ground unblanched almonds For filling 1/2 cup (25 cl) crème fraîche or heavy (whipping) cream 1 large egg lightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons full-flavored honey, such as lavender 1 tablespoon superfine flour, such as Wondra About 1 1/2 pounds (750 g) fresh apricots, pitted and halved (do not peel) Confectioners' sugar, for garnish Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23cm) fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Set aside. Make the pastry: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and the sugar, and using a wooden spoon, stir to blend. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to form a soft, cookie-like dough. Transfer the dough to the center of the buttered pan. Using the tips of your fingers, evenly press the pastry along the bottom and up the sides of the pan. The pastry will be quite thin. Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake unitl the dough is slightly puffy and set, 12 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle the ground almonds over the bottom of the crust. (This will prevent the crust from becoming soggy.) Meanwhile make the filling: In a medium-size bowl, combine the crème fraîche, egg, extracts and honey and whisk to blend. Whisk in the flour. Pour the filling evenly over the pastry. Starting just inside the edge of the pan, neatly overlap the halved apricots, cut side up, at an angle. Arrange in two or three concentric circles, working toward the center. Fill in the center with the remaining apricots. Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake until the filling is firm and the pastry is a deep golden brown, 55 to 60 minutes. The apricots will shrivel slightly. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Place the tart on a rack to cool. Sprinkle again with confectioners' sugar just before serving. Serves 8. -- Sensual Ascetic. Three Volvos. Average age 37 years. No damn cupholders. Good wine. Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827195/cherry_season_south_minneapolis.html ">Cherry Season in South Minneapolis</a>

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  READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  Old tree posted by  dencat on  Fri Jul 16 12:08 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Tue Nov 25 14:06 CST 2008 [RELATED] We bought a house two tears ago with a huge cherry tree in the yard. It must be at least 15 feet. I can walk under the lowest branches. I don't know how old this tree is, but at some age, like us, do they stop producing? We get the start of some cherries but they don't mature, plus the birds and squirrls munch on the little buds. DC Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827591/old_tree.html ">Old tree</a>

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    READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  Old tree posted by  c. a. on  Fri Jul 16 16:35 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Sat Aug 22 11:35 CST 2009 [RELATED] My neighbors just loaned me a copy of "Saveur", a magazine about food. There was a big article last month in it about cherries. they went to Traverse City, Mi, which is the sour cherry capitol of the US. There was a line in the article that said cherry trees only are productive to about 30 years. Maybe it is too old. Do you know what type it is? Sweet or tart? What part of the country do you live in? In the midwest likely tart, west probably sweet. -- Sensual Ascetic. Three Volvos. Average age 37 years. No damn cupholders. Good wine. Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827684/old_tree.html ">Old tree</a>

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      READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  Old tree posted by  dencat on  Fri Jul 16 20:45 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Tue Nov 25 14:06 CST 2008 [RELATED] Type of cherries? I sure don't know, just puney then dried up. I am in Eugene Oregon where they blossom in Feb./March and have cherry buds about a month later. I would guess this tree is at least 30 years old so thanks for the feedback. At that age, the old thing can't be expected to produce anymore but it still blossoms, and it is gorgeous. DC Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827772/old_tree.html ">Old tree</a>

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  READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  Cherry Season in South Minneapolis posted by  Philip Pan on  Fri Jul 16 01:46 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Wed Sep 19 10:58 CST 2007 [RELATED] When I have a lot of fruit with a lot of juice, I cook it down to a thick syrupy mash and freeze the concentrate in zip locks. I hate to throw away yummy, fresh juice. Thaw some out as needed for sauces, ice cream, baking, etc. The pickled cherries and tart sound delicious. -- '84 "285" rice-eater with lotsa hp & performance goodies Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827432/cherry_season_south_minneapolis.html ">Cherry Season in South Minneapolis</a>

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    READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  Cherry Season in South Minneapolis posted by  c. a. on  Fri Jul 16 09:53 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Sat Aug 22 11:35 CST 2009 [RELATED] That is a great idea. I have just been drinking the juice. I gave some to my "foodie" neighbors and they mixed some with gin which isn't as dtrange as you might imagine, as I am sure the juniper berries in the gin contribute an interesting taste to the mix. Research has shown that cherry juice is a powerful antioxidant, good for arthritis, and the heart. One should NEVER throw away the juice. There is also cherried brandy. My next door neighbor is going to come and pick today and put up cherry jam tomorrow. I get 50%. Yum! -- Sensual Ascetic. Three Volvos. Average age 37 years. No damn cupholders. Good wine. Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827538/cherry_season_south_minneapolis.html ">Cherry Season in South Minneapolis</a>

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      READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN.... posted by  jsaw on  Fri Jul 16 13:20 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Tue Nov 25 17:11 CST 2008 [RELATED] Allright, allright, enough about all these great treats already! Jeeeze c.a., this isn't the first time reading one of your posts has made me hungry. You'd think this was a cooking forum, not car forum..:> My grandmother, whose thumb can be seen from space (it's kinda green), managed to grow grapes in her backyard for the past few years. Being about 8 or 10 hours northwest of St. Pauls/Minn., tyou understand that the climate is not conducive to grape-growing. But, away she goes, pressing them and making a strong concentrate that she freezes, then mixing with water and viola! homemade grape juice. Damn it's good. Glad to hear your back safely. The stories were/are great! are you going to keep the caprice? Josh Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827611/mmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnn.html ">MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN....</a>

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        READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN.... posted by  c. a. on  Fri Jul 16 16:50 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Sat Aug 22 11:35 CST 2009 [RELATED] It is hard to believe, but I still have 2 more "adventures" of a motoring type that I need to write about. The Caprice is starting to grow on me. I like the tinted windows because I can haul my metalsmithing tools around and they aren't readily visible outside the car. I am taking a lot of ?good natured? abuse about having that car. It is SO ugly! A friend, at lunch today called it "fecal brown", and the sad thing is, she is right. The seating area is pimp style gen-U-ine velour; quite comfortable, but I can imagine what it will look like in a little while with the addition of two Golden Retrievers. I am considering on going with the aesthetic travasty thing, since it already is one, and making it some sort of Art Car. The hood ornament is gone. I am looking for a plastic alligator, lizard, or something else, old bowling trophy perhaps?, spraying it with chrome spray and replacing the hood ornament. There are some places on the roof where the paint is peeled away, and I need to do some light sanding and touch up. Do I re-paint the touch-up areas fecal brown again? I think the car is sound. It only used 1/3 of a quart of oil towing the trailer 1400 miles over mountains on the trip home. Not bad. It IS almost silent with the window rolled up, corners almost perfectly flat, has a nice radio and a working clock, powerr locks, ect. I am tempted. Then I see my beloved 145 that I will have to part with, and I have an angst attack. Still, I have to be practical. I need something that can tow my trailer. The wagon, with it's size and tinted windows, is big enough to sleep in in a pinch. I have been doing lots of out of town shows selling dog collars, and I could conceivable leave the trailer at home if I wished with the Caprice, and still have a place to sleep. Yes, Bru, I know that is redneck, but when you are a vendor at an outdoor art show, or dog show, you want to be near your booth in case a storm blows up in the middle of the night, or anything else happens. I can't afford to lose my canopy and display materials. What do you all out there think? Keep the Caprice and sell the 145? As it is, I am not driving the poor little 544 because I can't afford to insure 3 cars. Four is unthinkable. -- Sensual Ascetic. Three Volvos. Average age 37 years. No damn cupholders. Good wine. Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827693/mmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnn.html ">MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN....</a>

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          READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN.... posted by  CliveAlive on  Fri Jul 16 17:01 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Thu Nov 19 20:38 CST 2009 [RELATED] Somehow I missed what happened exactly to your 145 and the trailer. I gather there was some damage to the trailer. I know you have mentioned that you thought the Caprice was underpowered. If so but you like the car, either look for another one with the bigger LTI engine, or have one put in. Otherwise why keep it? What's wrong with the 145? Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827701/mmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnn.html ">MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN....</a>

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            READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN.... posted by  c. a. on  Fri Jul 16 18:24 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Sat Aug 22 11:35 CST 2009 [RELATED] What happened was that I drove 500 miles and had to turn back because to improvised hitch on the 145 wasn't holding. The damage to the trailer was another unrelated thing. It seems as if it impossible to get a hitch for a 145. that and the fact that the 145 is unibody, makes it nigh impossible to fashion a decent hitch if yoou can't obtain a stock hitch. Rob tried with a 240 hitch. The Caprice is underpowered, but i couldn't afford to drive an bigger engine. It got over the 6500' mountains all right towing the trailer, but sometimes it was in D2 and once or twice in low. I don't particularly object to the modest power, it is just that my first car, a '64 Comet Caliente, which was considered a compact car at the time, was a 302 and this huge sled is a 307. The 145 was my winter beateer, so the Caprice, if I keep it will become that also. I don't know how well it will do on It seems, since I a tow car, that I will have to keep the Caprice. The 122 has a hitch, but the rear is awfully close to the ground, and really needs air springs to tow a trailer. I buggered the threads on the jack wheel on the trailer last year by bottoming out when using the 122 as a tow car. -- Sensual Ascetic. Three Volvos. Average age 37 years. No damn cupholders. Good wine. Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827732/mmmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnn.html ">MMMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN....</a>

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              READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  Chevy wagon as winter beater... posted by  MSW on  Fri Jul 16 20:52 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Mon Jan 21 13:18 CST 2008 [RELATED] Digging your way out of snowbanks is GOOD for the back muscles, really..:) Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827775/chevy_wagon_winter_beater.html ">Chevy wagon as winter beater...</a>

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              READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  145 vs Caprice posted by  CliveAlive on  Fri Jul 16 18:53 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Thu Nov 19 20:38 CST 2009 [RELATED] Oh. I see. Well that's a tough call. At least it might be for me also. Because if I didn't love my V's so much I would go for a Silver Crown Vic Police Interceptor with tinted windows for a sedan. And I would go for a Caprice for the wagon. I figure I need both!!! Like the 240's I have now. Regarding the tow bar for the 140 series; I am convinced that the one I had on my 142e was stock. It looked very similar to the 240 OEM hitch as it was a large tube design. However the mounting points MAY have been different. It's a while ago now. I know I had no trouble towing a loaded pop-up with it at Interstate speeds. Perhaps you could keep beating the bushes for one in case one turns up, then you could keep the 145. They've got to be out there. Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827741/145_vs_caprice.html ">145 vs Caprice</a>

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                READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  145 vs Caprice posted by  c. a. on  Fri Jul 16 22:08 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] last visit: Sat Aug 22 11:35 CST 2009 [RELATED] I would love to keep the 145, although I must admit, I have these really strange calllusses on the end phalange of my finger from gripping the steering wheel of the non-power steering wheel when towing. I notined the metal tube like construction under the rear of the car and figured that the hitch fits in there some way. I have tried to find one, and so far, no luck. I have until winter to find one; otherwise the 145 goes. :>( -- Sensual Ascetic. Three Volvos. Average age 37 years. No damn cupholders. Good wine. Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827790/145_vs_caprice.html ">145 vs Caprice</a>

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                  READ ONLY    PRINT   SAVE  140 Trailer Hitch. posted by  craig white on  Sat Jul 17 08:57 CST 2004 Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED] Find a decent welder and have one made. As projects go, it's not a big deal. Here's one to model after: http://www.algonet.se/~volvieo/140/album/ac-trailer-hitch.jpg Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post. Select, copy to buffer, and paste anywhere: <a href="http://www.brickboard.com/OPINIONS/volvo/827844/140_trailer_hitch.html ">140 Trailer Hitch.</a>

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