Portable Pies

Something Creamy, Tangy & Sweet became the center of attention when celebrated in April on National Cherry Cheesecake Day. Then, Pie! Pie! Pie! to Cobbler! Cobbler! Cobbler! spotlighted the month of May with National Cherry Cobbler Day. Cherries & Apples were the highlight when Cherry Tart Day occurred in June on the same day as Apple Strudel Day. WOW! And the cherry goodness did not end there. It continued into August, twice already: Any Way You Slice It featured National Spumoni Day, which combined three layers of flavor—chocolate, pistachio and cherry, and Cherry Reigns Supreme brought out the child in each of us on National Cherry Popsicle Day.

Is that all? Is that enough of the cherry? Of course NOT! One cannot leave out the 'cherry on top'! That allows the inclusion of the month of July and adds yet another cherry to the month of August: Just Fudge It! paired chocolate with the cherry on top during National Hot Fudge Sundae Day and Let's Split! made National Banana Split Day complete as the long-stemmed cherry rose to the highest peak.

With that last tidbit, let's recap and take a peek at what is happening next in relation to the cherry...cheesecake, cobbler, tarts, ice cream, popsicles, sundaes and splits! Pie wasn't mentioned nor cake but time will roll around again for their celebrations in February, which is National Cherry Month. So, what's left?

August 28 is...

National Cherry Turnover Day

Cherry Turnover Recipe

The cherry is obviously well known but what is a turnover? Are cherries being flipped? Rolled over from side to side? A replacement for something else? Perhaps a foldover?

A turnover is a kind of pastry made by placing a filling on a piece of dough, folding the dough over, and sealing it. Turnovers can be sweet or savory and are often made as a sort of portable meal or dessert, similar to a sandwich. It is common for sweet turnovers to have a fruit filling and be made with a short (pie crust-like) or puff pastry dough; savory turnovers generally contain meat and/or vegetables and can be made with any sort of dough, though a kneaded yeast dough seems to be the most common in Western cuisines. They are usually baked, but may be fried. Unlike pasties or empanadas, they are triangular in shape. (Source: The Nibble)

Since turnovers are a delicious pastry they can be enjoyed for breakfast or dessert, even snack. Having been classified as "portable pies," turnovers quickly became a common addition to a picnic. A traditional cherry turnover recipe calls for puff pastry, which is stuffed with a gooey cherry filling and then baked until golden brown. There are many variations on this classic treat though. Some recipes call for cream cheese, extra lemon juice, or even ice cream.

To celebrate National Cherry Turnover Day, bake your own homemade cherry turnovers to share with friends and family! Bon appétit!

 Cherry Turnovers the Old-Fashioned Way

yum, yum, yum . . . yummy!