Celebrate the Fourth! Dine outdoors and serve a fabulous make-ahead menu.

  Star-Studded Starter

Start with a sassy salsa of in-season sweet, plump Northwest cherries paired with peppers, onion and cilantro! Serve cracker-like crisps - cut from pita breads using star-shaped cookie cutters - for dipping.

 From left: Cherry Salsa With Star Crisps, A Star of a Salad, Mixed Green Salad With Northwest Cherries, Almonds & Goat Cheese

 Salads Make the Meal
Toss orzo, chicken and sweet cherries with red wine vinaigrette and pack into a star-shaped pan. Chill and then turn out onto a platter for serving. Add a simple mixed green salad topped with glazed almonds, creamy goat cheese and fresh, antioxidant-rich cherries.

Dazzling Dessert Trio
Swirls of red, white and blue candy bark, a giant cupcake adorned with stars and stripes, and luscious frozen cherry cream atop a brownie shell create a perfect patriotic finish to enjoy with the fireworks finale.

 Visit www.nwcherries.com for cherry recipes and information about storage, purchasing, nutrition and health.  Check www.wilton.com for more celebration ideas and recipes, plus bakeware, books and decorating supplies.

From left: Red, White and Blue Bark, America's Star Cupcake, Black Forest Brownie With Frozen Cherry Cream

There's fruit, and then there's superfruit. What's the difference? A superfruit has unique phytochemicals not found in other fruits - and that translates to unique health benefits.
As more and more information emerges about the power of superfruits - from açai to goji berries - an American favorite that's been here all along is stepping into the spotlight: California Dried Plums.
Dried plums are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. And they're loaded with surprises. Today's dried plums are sweet, moist and tasty. Compared with other fruits, they're surprisingly affordable, conveniently portable and always available.
California Dried Plums are the easy way to enjoy superfruit nutrition every day in cooking, baking, salads or as a quick snack anytime. Find delicious recipes at www.californiadriedplums.org.


Dried plums. What's in 'em for you?
-Improved digestion: A single serving (four to five dried plums) has three grams of fiber, to help you maintain good digestive health.
-Tasty nutrition: Dried plums are a nutrition powerhouse that includes B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and boron.
-Antioxidants: Dried plums have phenolics that promote good health.
-Blood sugar control: Dried plums can help maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
-Cholesterol management: Fiber and other compounds in dried plums can help maintain healthy cholesterol.
-Beauty: A study among elderly people suggests dried plums may help reduce skin wrinkles.
-A perfect fit for healthful diets: Dried plums promote satiety and have only 100 calories per serving.


"Dried plums are bite-size nuggets of superfruit goodness ... and they're super-affordable and easy to fit into your busy life."
- David Grotto, RD, LDN, author, "101 Foods That Could Save Your Life"