Homemade Honey & Cherry Frozen Yogurt

Homemade Honey & Cherry Frozen Yogurt

I thought it might be nice to follow up with a healthy frozen yogurt recipe just for us humans!
This cold frozen treat is the perfect alternative to ice cream this summer (sometimes!), and only requires 3 healthy ingredients.

Honey Cherry Frozen Yogurt:

5 Cups pitted sweet cherries (fresh or frozen)
4 Pint whole-fat yogurt
5 Tbs organic honey

In a large bowl combine 1/5 cups of cherries (reserve remaining 4 1/5 cups), yogurt and honey. Transfer to food processor and blend until smooth. Fold in remaining 4 1/5 cups cherries and pour into container(s) or popsicle mold for freezing.
Since we aren’t using an ice cream maker for this recipe, I suggest serving when just frozen.

After 24hours the yogurt will freeze into a solid block (if you’ve used a popsicle mold then no worries here). If this happens, transfer to fridge to lightly thaw a few hours before serving time. I also had some fun slicing this (carefully!) with my big knife and serving it in thick slices. Can be stored in airtight container for up to one week in freezer
This frozen yogurt has just enough sweetness to be tasty treat, without so much sugar as to be a guilty indulgence! Yum.
Cherries are one of the fruits with the lowest caloric value, and on the other hand they are very rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Both cherries and sour cherries are packed with a number of ingredients that are crucial to maintaining good health and general well-being.
Cherries are fruits rich in pigments. These pigments are actually polyphenolic flavonoid compounds known as anthocyanin glycosides. Anthocyanins are red, purple or blue pigments present in many fruits and vegetables. They are especially concentrated in the peel and have powerful antioxidant properties.
Scientific studies have shown that anthocyanins in cherries act as anti-inflammatory agents, by blocking the enzymes cyclooxygenas 1 and 2. Consuming cherries has potential health benefits, such as blocking painful chronic episodes of: arthritis, fibromyalgia (muscle) injury and painful sports .
Scientific research also suggests that cherries help the body fight certain cancers, neurological diseases, early-onset diabetes, and slow down the aging process.
Cherries are very rich in the stable antioxidant melatonin. .otassium is a mineral good for heart health, an important part of cellular and body fluids, which helps regulate heart function and blood pressure.
Cherries, and especially cherries, are especially rich in a number of flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants beneficial to health, such as lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. These compounds serve as protective collectors of harmful free radicals and reactive oxygen species, which play an important role in the aging process and in the development of some cancers and various diseases.
The anti-inflammatory functions of cherries reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by accumulating free radicals.
Caribbean cherry, acerola, has an extremely high concentration of vitamin C (1677.6 milligrams per 100 grams or 2796 percent of the daily recommended dose) and vitamin A (767 international units per 100 grams).
Selection and storage:
The cherry season lasts from May to August in Europe and the United States. Fresh ripe cherries spoil quickly. In stores, choose cherries that have a bright color, with green stalks, firmly attached to the fruit.
Store fresh cherries in the refrigerator. 
To prepare the cherries for eating, remove the stalks, wash them with cold water and gently wipe them with a soft cloth.
Cherries are a great addition to fruit salad, combined with: peach, pear, apricot and pineapple.
Cherry juice is a favorite refreshing drink for athletes and sports staff. Dried cherries are a great addition to meals, and can be used as snacks.