I picked up a pound of gorgeous Rainier cherries not very long ago at the grocery store, but I didn't know what I wanted to do with them.
I considered making a tart, or baking them into a buckle, but frankly these sounded more labor-intensive than I was willing to go for as yet.
So the cherries remained. I pitted them, photographed them, and set them back in my fridge.
As I was browsing Pinterest I saw a Cherry & Ricotta Crostini pin which sparked my interest. I mean - it's fruit and toast with spreadable cheese, what could go wrong?
I did pin the pin, but I wasn't interested in that recipe as much as my own interpretation. At the grocery store I picked up a baguette and some ricotta, but I also wanted an herb, so I sniffed the lemon thyme before tossing it into my cart.
Also, I had an untouched tub of mascarpone in my fridge and a fresh lemon. So this afternoon I set out a totally scientific experiment (and by totally scientific I mean hardly scientific at all) to discover which combination I liked better.
I sliced and set the bread to toast first, which was silly - in the future, seriously, mix the cheese spread first. Into each bowl of cheese I stirred honey (about 1 tablespoon), lemon zest (1 tsp), and a pinch salt.
I tasted, adjusted the flavors - the mascarpone needed more sweet and my honey was starting to sputter, so I put in about a half teaspoon of sugar - and then set to work to make these:
Aren't they pretty? So from right to left, there's the mascarpone, the ricotta, the mascarpone with thyme, the ricotta with thyme, and I just buttered the last slice and called it a "control" for the sake of science.
This is all for the sake of science.
And then because it was lunchtime, I ate them all. And then made up a second of the winner to photograph...
...and then ate that too. Are you ready? The winner is -
Give it a try and tell me what you think! If you tweaked the recipe, what would you do?
I considered making a tart, or baking them into a buckle, but frankly these sounded more labor-intensive than I was willing to go for as yet.
So the cherries remained. I pitted them, photographed them, and set them back in my fridge.
As I was browsing Pinterest I saw a Cherry & Ricotta Crostini pin which sparked my interest. I mean - it's fruit and toast with spreadable cheese, what could go wrong?
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| Lemon Thyme |
I did pin the pin, but I wasn't interested in that recipe as much as my own interpretation. At the grocery store I picked up a baguette and some ricotta, but I also wanted an herb, so I sniffed the lemon thyme before tossing it into my cart.
 |
| Mascarpone + Spoon |
Also, I had an untouched tub of mascarpone in my fridge and a fresh lemon. So this afternoon I set out a totally scientific experiment (and by totally scientific I mean hardly scientific at all) to discover which combination I liked better.
I sliced and set the bread to toast first, which was silly - in the future, seriously, mix the cheese spread first. Into each bowl of cheese I stirred honey (about 1 tablespoon), lemon zest (1 tsp), and a pinch salt.
I tasted, adjusted the flavors - the mascarpone needed more sweet and my honey was starting to sputter, so I put in about a half teaspoon of sugar - and then set to work to make these:
Aren't they pretty? So from right to left, there's the mascarpone, the ricotta, the mascarpone with thyme, the ricotta with thyme, and I just buttered the last slice and called it a "control" for the sake of science.
This is all for the sake of science.
And then because it was lunchtime, I ate them all. And then made up a second of the winner to photograph...
...and then ate that too. Are you ready? The winner is -
The mascarpone with thyme! This was SO GOOD, YOU GUYS. As in, if you make this soon, you won't regret it. The hot toasted bread with the creamy lemony cheese with the fresh herbs and the juicy cherries - so, so good. The ricotta was good too, and if you have some already lurking around, go ahead and use it. For me, though, the creaminess of the mascarpone took it from delicious to swoony.
Give it a try and tell me what you think! If you tweaked the recipe, what would you do?
Oh my goodness, that looks so delicious! What a neat recipe! I love the idea of the sweet and savory. And you had me at mascarpone. :)
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