Today’s handy culinary torch descends from the heavy duty blowtorches, long used by gold and silversmiths (the first patent dates to 1791).

While its most famous kitchen use is to caramelize the sugar on the top of crème brûlée, it is also handy to:

 
Affordable at $25 or so, it’s well worth it if you’d like an easy alternative to using the broiler or holding peppers over the stove flame. You can pick one up at most kitchenware retailers or online.

[1] Always a treat: crème brûlée (photo © QVC).

Here’s a recipe from QVC’s David Venable. If you want to add a Grand Marnier accent, take a look at this recipe.

You’ll need round or oval ceramic ramekins: 5-ounce ramekins for four servings, 3-ounce ramekins for seven servings. This set (photo below) from Bonjour includes both the torch and the ramekins.
 
 
RECIPE: CRÈME BRÛLÉE

Ingredients For 4 Servings

1. PREHEAT the oven to 325°F.

2. BRING the cream and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar to a simmer in a 2-quart saucepan.

3. LIGHTLY WHISK together the egg yolks and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Temper the egg mixture by slowly pouring the cream mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Add the vanilla and the rum and continue whisking until fully incorporated. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Place the bowl with the brûlée mixture into an ice water bath and let cool completely.

4. PLACE the ramekins in a large baking dish. Divide the brûlée mixture evenly among the ramekins, filling them 3/4 of the way full. Place the baking dish in the middle rack of the oven and then fill it with hot tap water, to 2/3 of the way up the ramekin sides.

5. BAKE for 35-45 minutes for 4 (five-ounce) ramekins; or bake for 25-35 minutes for 7 (three-ounce) ramekins. When done, each brûlée will jiggle lightly in the center.

6. REFRIGERATE for 4 hours or overnight. Just before serving, sprinkle the white sugar over each cooled crème brûlée and torch until all of the sugar is melted and golden brown (it will begin to harden when the torch is removed). Serve immediately.

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But the folks at Grey Goose tell us that this Prohibition-era drink is the oldest vodka cocktail found in print. They shared the recipe below.

While the drink appeared long before flavored vodkas were available in the U.S., you can use a cherry flavored vodka for more cherry flavor. Grey Goose, Pinnacle, Skyy, Smirnoff, Svedka, Three Olives and UV, among others, make cherry vodka.

In addition to the cocktail recipe, we have a second recipe for homemade brandied cherries, below.
 
 
RECIPE #1: RUSSIAN COCKTAIL

Ingredients Per Drink

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the two spirits in a cocktail shaker. Top with crushed ice and shake vigorously.

2. STRAIN into a chilled frappe glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry and serve.
 
 
MARASCHINO LIQUEUR VS. CHERRY LIQUEUR

We actually prefer generic cherry liqueur to the cherry-specific maraschino liqueur. Maraschino liqueur, such as Luxardo, is a clear, relatively dry liqueur made from Marasca cherries, including the crushed pits. The latter give it a subtle bitter almond flavor.

If you like the note of almond, go for the maraschino liqueur. If you like things sweeter with more cherry flavor, head for the cherry liqueur.

[2] Thanks to Grey Goose for the recipe. We’d never seen a “Pink Russian” before.

The ubiquitous maraschino cherries that are a joke in some food circles were once quite elite. The cherries were originally preserved in the liqueur as a delicacy for royalty and the wealthy.

The Marasca cherry (Prunus cerasus var. marasca) is a type of sour Morello cherry that grows largely in Bosnia, Croatia, Herzegovina, northern Italy and Slovenia. With a bitter taste and a drier pulp than other cherry varieties, they are ideal to make maraschino liqueur.

The Marasca cherry tree is very fussy about where it will grow, so in the U.S., the Royal Ann variety is substituted for the Marasca to make maraschino cherries.

[4] Luxardo brand maraschino liqueur. The liqueur is clear, not cherry-red like other cherry liqueurs (photo © The Whiskey Exchange).

You can buy brandied cherries (they’re pricey) or make your own:

 
Here’s a recipe from DarlaCooks.com. Note that the aesthetically-pleasing stems come only with fresh cherries; so you may want to mark your calendar for cherry season, then get out your Mason jars and preserve them.

You can also marinate the cherries in cherry liqueur or kirschwasser, a cherry eau de vie (fruit brandy).

 
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRANDY & COGNAC

Both brandy and cognac wall into the category of grape brandy, distilled from white wine grapes. But cognac is a superior product.

Cognac must be produced according to strict regulations, and only in the region surrounding the town of Cognac in central France. It must be made from a specific group of white grape varietals that are double distilled using pot stills, and then aged for at least two years.

Brandy is a generic term for a grape distillate that can be made anywhere in the world.

A good analogy is the difference between champagne, which must be made in the Champagne region of France, with specific grapes and techniques; and sparkling wines, which can be made anywhere in the world from any suitable grapes.

Grape brandy can be made anywhere, from any grapes (brandy is also made from fruit and pomace). It does not require double distillation or long aging.

While there are quality brandies, in general Cognac is a better product. The double distilling and aging rounds out the spirit and produces more mellow flavors.

Here’s a dip from the Cherry Marketing Institute, made pink with cherry juice or the stronger cherry juice concentrate. You can also use this cherry recipe to celebrate Washington’s Birthday.

After you make the dip, dilute the extra concentrate to make cherry juice for cocktails or mocktails, and freeze any leftovers into ice cubes and ice pops.

Serve this dip with crackers, toasts or vegetables. We also enjoyed it atop cottage cheese.
 
 
RECIPE: CHERRY NUT SPREAD

Ingredients For 1 Cup (8 Appetizer Servings)

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE the cream cheese and tart cherry juice concentrate; mix until smooth. Stir in the sugar, pecans and thyme.

2. REFRIGERATE, covered, 2 to 3 hours or longer, to allow flavors to blend.

3. USE as a spread on toasted breads or as a dip for assorted crackers, with garnish as desired.
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF CHERRIES

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*Amaranth, beet, cabbage, chard, kale, mustard, radish and mustard microgreens have red leaves, stems or both.