When I was little, I always requested cherry pie instead of cake and ice cream on my birthday. Somehow, it just tasted better and settled better on my stomach than cake. They say that our bodies will let us know when certain foods are necessary for our health. Cherries are one of the healthiest fruits that you can eat.
One particular benefit that seemed to agree with me was the composition of melatonin antioxidant that cherries are known for. Melatonin can cross the blood-brain barrier easily and has soothing effects on the brain neurons, calming down nervous system irritability. It, thus, can help relieve neurosis, insomnia and headaches. If you suffer from anxiety and a nervous stomach, fresh cherries could be the answer.
My mother picked fresh cherries from a cherry tree nearby and made her own sauce out of tapioca, sugar, lemon juice and cornstarch. This homemade filling seemed to calm down the tartness of the cherries and bring out the sweet flavor. There were no preservatives in the filling. This is much different than the cherry filling that you find in the store today.
Here is my mother’s way when making my birthday pie:
In a saucepan, she combined all these ingredients:
6 cups fresh pitted cherries
¾ cup of granulated sugar
¼ cup of tapioca
½ cup water
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon almond extract
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Brought it all to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently and then reduced the heat to low, letting it cook for 10-15 minutes.
Mother’s pie crust was also special. She would always sprinkle dashes of cinnamon, almond, vanilla, brown sugar and melted butter on the dough for bottom and the top which was latticed.
Once the filling was slightly cooled, it would be place in a 9 inch pie pan, which was placed on a baking sheet and then baked in a preheated 425 degree oven for 45-60 minutes, until the crust was golden brown and the filling was bubbling.
My birthday pie in the sky would be served warm and also a dab of real homemade cream
Although the needs of your body evolve as we age, never fail to listen for signs of missing nutritional foods that can give your system a boost. Cherries also contain anthocyanins that act as anti-inflammatory agents and potassium, a beneficial electrolyte which is an important component of cell and body fluids.
Ask your family what they are hungry for and the answer may surprise you. I still crave my mom’s cherry pie and how it made me feel on my special day.
Kate Eglan-Garton/AAPJ Senior Editor