A delicious and refreshingly "bubbly" sweet cherry and tart lemon beverage. Serve in stemmed glasses garnished with whole cherries and a sprig of fresh mint for a lovely presentation.

Cherry Lemon Cooler

3 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup Northwest fresh sweet cherries, halved and pitted
1 cup fresh lemon juice, refrigerated
Crushed ice
1 bottle (1 liter) club soda or seltzer
Northwest fresh sweet cherries with stems
4 long stems fresh mint

1. Combine water and sugar in small saucepan; add halved cherries. Bring mixture to boil; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
2. Strain syrup into container with tight fitting lid; discard cherries. Refrigerate syrup until cold.
3. Fill a tall 12 to16-ounce glass with ice. Pour 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/3 cup syrup over ice and top with club soda. Garnish with cherries and mint.

Makes 2 servings.

Tip: Leftover syrup may be stored, refrigerated, up to one week.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): 140 Cal., 0 g pro., 0 g fat, 37 g carb., 0 mg chol., 1 g fiber, 28 mg sodium.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Washington State Fruit Commission.