December 7, 2007

A Wing and a Prairie

The Prairie Girl’s Whiskey Cherries Recipe

She wasn’t as scandalous as Stacey McGill (whose city ways shocked The Baby-sitter’s Club) or Jessica Wakefield (who totally ruled Sweet Valley), but you’ll always have a soft spot for Laura Ingalls.

Seattleite Jennifer Worick, author of The Prairie Girl’s Guide to Life, shares the sentiment — and kindly came up with this Little House-era winter project just for DailyCandy readers.

Whiskey Cherries
Yields 6 jars

What you will need:
1 canning kettle
6 canning jars
5 pints sweet cherries, stems removed
750 ml cheap whiskey

1. Fill canning kettle with water and bring to a boil.

2. Turn jars upside down and immerse them on the kettle’s rack.

3. Pull jars out of the hot-water bath (use tongs or a dish towel) and fill with washed, unpitted sweet cherries.

4. Pack each jar to the rim with cherries, leaving a bit of airspace.

5. Pour whiskey into each jar, also to the rim, leaving some space at the top.

6. Place canning jar lids over jar openings and screw rings tightly around lids.

7. Allow jars to cool by setting them on a dry towel away from drafts. (Cold air can crack the jars, since they are still very hot.)

8. Once the jars reach room temperature, store in a dark, cool place for at least six months. (They’ll keep for years.)

9. Serve over ice cream, to accompany chocolates, or in a Manhattan for your favorite farmer boy.

For more good clean fun, check out The Prairie Girl’s Guide to Life: How to Sew a Sampler Quilt and 49 Other Pioneer Projects for the Modern Girl, available online at barnesandnoble.com or your local bookstore.