(NAPS)—For manypeople, life is just a bowl of cherries—especially during February, National Cherry Month. Bakers are using this luscious red fruit to celebrate a variety of special days, including George Washington’s birthday (February 22) and Paczki Day or Fat Tuesday (February 27). According to the Cherry Marketing Institute, cherries won the hearts of Americans when European settlers brought cherry pits, which they planted as soon as they arrived in the New World. Wide-scale production began in the mid-1800s, when the first cherry orchards were planted in Michigan and Oregon. Today, the U.S. grows about 600 million pounds of cherries each year. About half are tart cherries and half are sweet. In addition, cherries are credited with many important preventive and healing qualities, including those of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and anti-carcinogens. One waypeople can paytribute to the 269th anniversary of the birth of our nation’s first president is with the whimsical creation known as George Washing- ton Birthday Bread. Strips of dough, laced with vanilla and sandwiched around a layer of cherry preserves, are twisted and placed on a baking sheet to form the branches of a tree. After the egg-washed tree is baked to a golden brown, it is adorned with painted leaves of almond sugar glaze and sliced almonds. Red and green glac cherries designate the George Washington Birthday Bread, a whimsical tribute to the President who “could nottell a lie.” 1-800-777-4959 or, better yet, go to www.breadworld.com. George Washington Birthday Bread Makes1 tree 2% cupsall-purpose flour \% cup sugar 1 envelope FLEISCHMANN’S RapidRise Yeast % teaspoonsalt Y% cup water Y% cup milk 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 large egg tree as the one of legend. George Washington Birthday % teaspoon vanilla extract or social, and is also a terrific discussion piece in the classroom or AlmondGlaze (recipe Bread is great for an office party % cup cherry preserves Egg Glaze (recipe follows) at home with kids. While chil- follows) \% cup sliced almonds dren’s busy hands admireorcraft this unusual bread creation, adults can deliver an ethicsor history lesson. Red and/or green glac cherries, quartered In a large bowl, combine *4 soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth andelastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. Cut % portion from dough; shape into a trunk of a tree. Place on bottom center of a large baking sheet lined with parchmentpaper. Roll remain- ing dough to 12x12-inch square. Spread cherry preserves evenly over dough to within 1/2 inch of edges. Fold dough in half; do not seal ends. Cut into 12 (1inch) strips; twist each strip 3 to 4 times. Attach folded ends of strips to top of trunk, forming a semi-circle. Split unsealed ends of each twist with a knife. Cover; let rise in warm, draftfree place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Brush with Egg Glaze. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from sheet; cool on wire rack. Drizzle with Almond Glaze; decorate with red and/or green glac cherries andsliced almonds. Egg Glaze: In a small bowl, The following recipe offers the time-saving benefit of using yeast and salt. Heat water, milk Fleischmann’s Yeast test kitchens. to dry ingredients. Beat 2 min- combine 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon water. Stir to blend sionally. Add egg, vanilla and 1 Almond Glaze: Combine % cup powdered sugar, sifted, Fleischmann’s RapidRise yeast, andis certified delicious by the Through its Helping Bakers Bake initiative, the company offers expert resources to consumers, including baking tips and recipes for beginners and experi- enced bakers. To learn more, call cup flour, sugar, undissolved and butter until very warm (120 to 130F). Gradually add utes at medium speedof electric mixer, scraping bowl occacup flour. Beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a well. and 2 to 3 teaspoons milk. Add 1% teaspoon almond extract. Stir until smooth.
