Try this quick cherries dessert

They’re back. Although most fruit these days can be found in grocery stores year-round, cherries remain seasonal supermarket displays. So enjoy them while you can. Here’s a quick, elegant dessert idea from the Washington State Fruit Commission:

Mix 2 cups pitted, halved cherries, 1/4 cup almond liqueur and 2 teaspoons sugar; marinate 1 hour or longer.

Arrange 12 ladyfingers, split in half lengthwise, against sides of 4 martini glasses.

Just before serving, spoon half-cup cherries over ladyfingers in each glass. Swirl 1 tablespoon whipped low-fat cream cheese over cherries in each glass. Garnish with whole cherry and serve.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition per serving: 338 calories, 4 grams fat, (11 percent fat calories), 6 grams protein, 59 grams carbohydrate, 113 milligrams cholesterol, 2 grams dietary fiber. 206 milligrams sodium.

Seeding a tomato

To seed a tomato easily, cut it in half at its equator. Take one half of it in your hand, cupping the curved side against your palm. Hold the tomato over the sink or a large bowl, squeeze it gently, then quickly flick your wrist downward several times. The seeds will fall right out.

What is ‘infuse’?

Infuse (in-FYOOZ) means to extract flavor from an ingredient by steeping it in warm, but not boiling, liquid for a time. The result is an infusion, a liquid imbued with flavor. Examples: hot tea and simple syrups spiked with the flavor of citrus zest or ginger root.

Flower-decorated pans

Metal baking pans with plastic lids that snap tight have been produced for decades. But we were drawn to the attractive design and sturdy heft of aluminum baking pans with floral-imprinted plastic tops. The pans, made by Nordic Ware, are available in 9-by-13-inch ($18) and 9-inch square ($16).

We found the pans at Williams-Sonoma stores. Also available by mail-order; call 877-812-6235 or see www.williams-sonoma.com.