Sweet Ginger Cherry Sauce

Spoon this versatile gingered sweet cherry sauce over ice cream, pound cake and cheesecake or use as a filling for fruit tarts.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 pound frozen sweet cherries, thawed
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup kirsch (cherry brandy)
2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
2 (1/4-inch thick) lemon slices, seeded
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

Cooking Directions:

1. Combine the cherries, sugar, kirsch, ginger and lemon in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove lemon slices. Stir in the cornstarch; cook and stir until thick.
2. Serve with ice cream, pound cake and cheesecake or use as a filling for fruit tarts.

Makes about 2 cups or 8 (1/4-cup) servings.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of www.nationalcherries.com and www.mirassou.com., through ECES, Inc., Electronic Color Editorial Services.