Cooking with Cherries
Julie Bitely
| 2 min read
Michelle White eats tart cherries in one form or another 365 days a year.
White is the founder of Michelle’s Miracle, a Leland-based company that makes tart cherry supplements and concentrates, distributed under the Cherry Works™ brand. She said incorporating cherries into her daily routine made a big difference in her own health.
White said she didn’t become diligent about using tart cherry concentrate until she “hit a wall” in recent years. Back pain was plaguing her and she decided to get serious about using her own products daily. She said a combination of her own tart cherry concentrate, stretching and massage have made her back problems a thing of the past and she’s noticed other health benefit as well, including improved sleep.
“I just feel better overall,” she said.
White has given cooking demonstrations at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. The Grand Traverse region is responsible for producing a large portion of the tart cherries in the United States, which have been studied for a range of health benefits.
In particular, White is a believer in the antioxidant properties of tart cherries. They contain large quantities of anthocyanins, flavonoid compounds that give them their tart taste and intense red coloring. Melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates sleep, is also found in tart cherries.
Best of all? The taste of cherries makes them an easy way to improve your health, White said. She puts her concentrate on oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, and even the occasional bowl of ice cream, as well as using dried cherries in her cooking.
“You can literally put cherries in just about anything,” White said.
Try these recipes courtesy of White and start reaping your own tart cherry health benefits while enjoying a lovely summer meal, full of fresh Michigan ingredients. Find more of her recipes here.
For even more ways to use Michigan’s favorite fruit, check out these recipes:
Photo Credit: A Healthier Michigan
