The Market: Get Rainier Cherries, Which Got Their Own Day

Mayor Greg Nichols has declared July 11th Rainier Cherry Day. Our Rainier cherries are uniquely identified by their ruby red and creamy yellow mottled color. Sweet cherries, their flesh is a golden and translucent; and they are considered to be the end all be all of cherry. Rainiers are more delicate than other cherries; so if you see little brown marks on them, don't be too critical--they bruise easily. When I worked in the market, I loved seeing the Japanese tourists go completely mad for them, as they are an extremely expensive yet desired import in Japan. They add a pretty contrast in a salad or baked with contrasting cherries like Bings.

Tomorrow, July 11th, Northwest Cherries will pass out FREE Rainier Cherries in the Pike Place Market (near Stewart Street). (After the jump, a stupidly easy recipe for Cherry Upside Down Cake from NWCherries.com and the Washington State Fruit Commission.)

Cherry Upside Down Cake
(recipe from NWCherries.com and the Washington State Fruit Commission)

7 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups pitted sweet cherries*

In large oven-proof skillet, melt 5 tablespoons butter; add brown sugar and cook until dissolved; remove from heat. Heat oven to 375ºF. In large bowl, beat eggs and granulated sugar until pale yellow; about 4 minutes. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in milk; set aside.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture and warm milk mixture to eggs and sugar, beating on low just until smooth batter forms. Sprinkle cherries in an even layer over brown sugar in pan; pour batter over cherries and bake 40 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately invert cake onto large platter; serve warm. (Freezing the cherries partially helps to keep them from floating to the top of cake.)