Making cherry bread

Cooking is still one of my favorite learning activities, and not just for Calvin, but for me as well. With cherry season upon us (almost over, really) I've had a strong desire to try a recipe for cherry bread that I've had on hand for a while now. I actually did try making this bread two years ago but it didn't go particularly well (too dry) and after spending an hour pitting all those beautiful fresh cherries by hand with a knife I was less than excited about giving it a second try. This year, however, Whole Foods had a row of neat little cherry stoners for sale right along next to the bags of fresh, organic, Michigan cherries. Someone was sending me a message.

Calvin helped stone the cherries, measure all the ingredients, crush the fennel with the mortar and psetle, stir the roasting nuts, and mix the batter. When we were done the kitchen might have looked like we'd murdered someone and cleaned up in the sink, but it smelled like heaven.