This salad is so good you could serve it for dessert.

• 1 (16-ounce) jar maraschino cherries
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple
• 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
• 2-1/2 cups miniature marshmallows (1/2 of a 10-1/2-ounce bag)
• 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 ounce cherry juice
• Lettuce leaves
• Fresh mint

Drain cherries, reserving 1/4 cup juice. Set aside. Put cream cheese and pineapple with juice in a medium mixing bowl; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed 3 to 4 minutes, or until combined.

Stir in mandarin oranges and cherries with 1/4 cup cherry juice. Add the cherry juice to the mix gently and fully mix the cherry juice into the recipe. Gently fold in marshmallows and whipped topping. Spread evenly in a 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Freeze 4-6 hours, or overnight. Serve on a lettuce leaf; garnish with fresh mint.

Makes 12 to 15 servings.

Cherry Salsa

Served with grilled poultry, roast pork or tortilla chips, this spicy mixture wows traditional salsa lovers.

• 1 1/3 cups frozen unsweetened tart cherries
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dried tart cherries
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh or canned
  jalapeno peppers, or to taste
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or 1/2 teaspoon
  dried cilantro
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Coarsely chop frozen tart cherries. Let cherries thaw and drain, reserving 1 tablespoon cherry juice. When cherries are thawed, put drained cherries, dried cherries, onion, jalapenos, garlic and cilantro in a medium saucepan; mix well. In a small container, combine reserved cherry juice and cornstarch; mix until smooth, then stir into cherry mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat until mixture is thickened. Let cool. Serve with tortilla chips and/or cooked chicken or pork.

Makes about 1 cup.

We received a lot of great feedback about our new Super Fruit Handbook.

Download your free copy of the Super Fruit Handbook at www.superfruithandbook.com or at www.traversebayfarms.com

As the thousands of attendees at the Grand Rapids International Food and Wine Festival sampled countless wines they were also treated to free samples of Traverse Bay Farms award winning salsas.  

In addition to receiving free samples of the entire line of Traverse Bay Farms award winning salsa many of they attendees also enjoyed the black bean, cherry and garden salsa with free egg samples from Egglands Best. Each free sample offered by Egglands Best was also accompanied by the option of including the Traverse Bay Farms salsa as a topper. 

“We are extremely pleased by the positive comments and feedback we received from many of the attendees and chef’s attending the International Food and Wine Festival. We also have a number of people ask us which of our salsa were available at the Egglands Best. ”, said Andy LaPointe, Director of Marketing with Traverse Bay Farms.

The company also sampled their complete line of barbeque sauces including red raspberry, apple and cherry to the chef’s and attending public. For many of the attendees this was their first introduction to the Traverse Bay Farms line of gourmet foods.

The peach, pineapple and red raspberry salsa were the favorite foods of many from the public which received free tasting samples from Traverse Bay Farms. Wendy C. from Grand Rapids said, “Your red raspberry salsa sauce is the best salsa I have ever tasted. It is the perfect blend of raspberries and jalapeno’s”.

In addition to being voted the best salsa in America two years in a row at America’s Best™ Professional Food Competition, Traverse Bay Farms is also the recipient of a “Special Tribute” from the State of Michigan.

Here is an overview of the awards won by Traverse Bay Farms at Americas Best™ Professional Food Competition:

2008 – Salsa General – Overall Salsa Category:

1st PLACE: Traverse Bay Farms – Peach Salsa

2008 – Salsa – Fruit Category:

3rd PLACE: Traverse Bay Farms – Peach Salsa

In addition to winning in 2008, Traverse Bay Farms was also voted America #1 salsa in 2007. Here is an overview of the 2007 awards.

 Salsa – Fruit Category:

1st PLACE: Traverse Bay Farms – Pineapple Salsa

3rd PLACE: Traverse Bay Farms – Raspberry Salsa

 Salsa – Bean Category:

1st PLACE: Traverse Bay Farms – Bean Salsa

 Salsa General – Overall Salsa Category:

2nd PLACE: Traverse Bay Farms – Corn Salsa

 www.traversebayfarms.com / www.fruitadvantage.com

We just returned from the Grands Rapids Wine and Food show and had a great event. We received excellent feedback on our salsa, cherry juice concentrate and our pumpkin butter. I’ll be uploading some testimonials over the next few days.

Hot Cherries -

Makes one serving

Mix 80z. of hot water with 1 oz (2 tablespoons of cherry juice concentrate). Mix in cherry juice concentrate to taste. This is an ideal drink for cold fall and winter mornings.

Milk Chocolate Cherries

Mix 6 oz of milk, 1 oz of Kaluha with 1 oz of cherry juice concentrate and stir. Add some ice for an outstanding milk chocolate drink