Nothing goes to waste: chokecherry seeds and pulp

[Caveman Survival]

I finished up a bunch of chokecherry jam the other day and was left with a whole whack of pulp and seeds after I processed the cherries through the food mill. Instead of tossing it, I put it to good use.

Put it all in my dehydrator and left it on for a day or so. Once dried I ground it up into chokecherry flour.



8lbs of chokecherries gave me this much dehydrated and ground 'waste'. Not a lot, but a little goes a long way, depending on use.

It can be used as a tea flavouring, a soup or gravy flavouring, as a flour substitute or extender (1/2 regular flour, 1/2 chokecherry flour). I love using it in bannock. It can be used to make pemmican, or jerky... What ever your want, it'll add a nice surprise to it.

If you've never used it before, don't worry. The dehydration takes the toxins out of the seeds so you won't get cyanide poisoning, and it also takes the astringency out and concentrates the sweetness in each cherry.

Mother Earth allows us her resources, so we should maximize what is given to us.

[Sniper-T]

seeds too eh? I was figuring on picking some chokers this weekend...

tx for the post

[Grumpy Old Man]

I have a buddy who's a vintner and he says that chokecherry wine is better than scissors for removing panties.

[Sniper-T]

I have my great grandmothers chokecherry wine recipe around somewhere... haven't made it in years!!!

[robsdak]

never had a chokeberry, do they grow this far south?

I have a buddy who's a vintner and he says that chokecherry wine is better than scissors for removing panties.

wow, Grump, i bet if you just smiled and asked nicely, they might just take them off for you.

[bacpacker]

How bout Tn?
Sounds like something good to have around, large crop, not a lot of work to produce the fruit.

[Sniper-T]

According to wiki... they may range naturally as far as TN... So they'd probably grow if you planted them!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_virginiana

[bacpacker]

Thanks T. I'll try and find some plants and give them a shot.

what is the growth habit like, vining, bushes?

[Caveman Survival]

Bacpacker they grow as leggy trees/bushes. About 15 feet high. Cherries start off red then purple/blacken up. The cherries grow on individual petioles but in a cluster of 3 to 8. When you eat them rAw they'll given you a good pucker and cotton mouth, the astringency decreases as they are cooked frozen. DO NOT eat the seed unless cooked, as it contains cyanide. Once processed however they are ok

[Sniper-T]

^
couldn't have put it better myself!

If you like sour candies, toss a handful in your mouth while you're picking. they'll pucker more than your face!