It's Christmas In July For Baker In Need Of Candied Cherries

Reader Richard Harrison wrote last month about wanting to make fruitcake for the summer but was looking for a recipe for candied cherries similar to what he buys at the grocery store during the holidays.

Reader Iris White e-mailed to suggest he stick with the store-bought. She says candied fruit can be purchased at any time of the year at Felton's Meat & Produce on Maryland Avenue in Plant City.

"I'm about to make my fruitcake now, Richard," White says.

Reader Nancy Engelhart also suggested Felton's. She says they carry the Paradise brand made in Plant City year-round.

"It comes in much larger packages and keeps well in either freezer or refrigerator," Engelhart says. "They have boxes of individual fruit and boxes of mixes and are very reasonable."

In Search Of Icebox Pickles

"Several years ago, you had a recipe for icebox pickles," reader Kathi Williams writes. "The recipe called for cucumbers, green pepper, onion, sugar and a few spices. You simply mixed everything together and placed it in the refrigerator overnight. I have misplaced the recipe, and it was one of my family's favorites."

I couldn't find it in our archives, Kathi. The closest I found was a recipe for Watermelon Rind Pickles, which might be of some help. The recipe ran in this column in 2000.

Maybe someone reading this will have a recipe to share for the cucumber variety.

Heirloom Recipe Contest

Through Aug. 11, Smucker's is searching for recipes that include at least 1/4 cup of Smucker's jams, jellies or preserves (including low-sugar and sugar-free products) and have been passed down for at least two generations. The contest also requires an original 200-words-or-less essay telling the story behind how the recipe makes family celebrations special. Grand prize is a five-day, four-night family trip for eight to Walt Disney World.

The top entries will be posted on the Smucker's Web site in early September, and visitors to the site will be given the chance to vote to help determine one grand-prize winner.

For contest rules and prize details, go to www.smuckers .com.

WATERMELON RIND PICKLES

2 quarts diced watermelon rind

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 cups sugar

5 cups vinegar

10 drops cinnamon oil

10 drops clove oil

Add rind and lime juice to a quart of water and soak overnight. Rinse rind, drain and cook in water for about an hour or until tender; then mix sugar, 1 cup vinegar and oils, and add to the rind. Simmer mixture for 10 minutes and set aside overnight. Drain. Fill pickle jars with mixture. Boil 4 cups of vinegar until clear and thick; add to rind in jars. Seal.