This stone fruit -- a relative of plums, peaches, and nectarines -- has a short harvest season, making a brief appearance in the produce aisle from June until August. Choose firm, richly colored cherries with green stems; avoid bruised, soft ones and those with brown stems.

Cherries take center stage in this refreshing, juicy fruit salad -- perfect for a picnic or barbecue.

Sweet cherries dot light, flaky phyllo dough dusted with sugar and cinnamon in this virtuous dessert.

Dessert (or a snack) couldn't be simpler: Take a small bowl of cherries, and dip each fruit into a bit of luscious, melted dark chocolate.

Here's an idea for a cherry of a breakfast (or snack): Chopped, macerated fruit and lemon zest top a layer of creamy ricotta cheese over a slice of toasted rustic bread.

Basic grilled chicken gets a fresh, fruity makeover with a topping of cherries, arugula, and a simple dressing of chopped shallot with oil and vinegar.

Preserve the sweet, fruity flavor of cherries -- at least for a few weeks -- by making this easy, tasty vinegar to use in salad dressings or inventive marinades.

Cherries give this apres-Thanksgiving classic a summery twist.

Try this nutty salad as a side dish or serve it over greens for a light meal.

Protein-rich tofu gives this drink a thick and creamy texture, and frozen blueberries, cherries, and grapes deliver deep flavor and additional antioxidants.

Stirring the granita frequently as it freezes gives it a granular texture.

Here, a generous pour of rose and tart cherry juice meld beautifully in individual crimson gelatins.

You can make this drink as sweet -- or sour -- as you like. Just add sugar to taste.

Cherries aren't only for jams and pies -- these juicy, ruby-red summer beauties are ripe for the picking in this refreshing salad.