This rich, velvety Chocolate Cherry Preserve is more than just a treat—it's a sweet tribute to the woman who taught us the true meaning of resilience and love. Inspired by my grandmother, who tirelessly worked the land and filled our pantries with her homemade canned vegetables well into her nineties, this is a nod to the simplest joys that life offers.
Grandma Vena, with a never ending pot of black coffee, hands worn by years of tending to a vast garden and the weight of countless mason jars, she never once hesitated to give all she had to those around her. She was a woman of quiet strength, dedication, and an unwavering sense of duty. Yet, there was one indulgence she allowed herself once a year—a box of chocolate-covered cherries. The sweetness of that box was the one luxury, the one reminder of life’s small, simple pleasures.
This preserve marries those two flavors—chunky cherries are combined with unsweetened cocoa powder to create a beautifully bittersweet blend of tart fruit and rich chocolate. It’s as rich as her love, as deep as the years spent nurturing the earth, and as sweet as the memories we hold of her. Every jar is a taste of her legacy: hardworking, humble, and always full of love.
This rich, velvety Chocolate Cherry Preserve is more than just a treat—it's a sweet tribute to the woman who taught us the true meaning of resilience and love. Inspired by my grandmother, who tirelessly worked the land and filled our pantries with her homemade canned vegetables well into her nineties, this is a nod to the simplest joys that life offers.
Grandma Vena, with a never ending pot of black coffee, hands worn by years of tending to a vast garden and the weight of countless mason jars, she never once hesitated to give all she had to those around her. She was a woman of quiet strength, dedication, and an unwavering sense of duty. Yet, there was one indulgence she allowed herself once a year—a box of chocolate-covered cherries. The sweetness of that box was the one luxury, the one reminder of life’s small, simple pleasures.
This preserve marries those two flavors—chunky cherries are combined with unsweetened cocoa powder to create a beautifully bittersweet blend of tart fruit and rich chocolate. It’s as rich as her love, as deep as the years spent nurturing the earth, and as sweet as the memories we hold of her. Every jar is a taste of her legacy: hardworking, humble, and always full of love.
