A cherry pitter makes short work of this recipe, but if you don’t have one, just place two or three fruits at a time under the flat side of a knife and hit the knife lightly (not as hard as you would to crush garlic). The pits will pull right out with the stems, bringing this surprisingly sophisticated dessert together in a flash.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups pitted sweet cherries
• 1/2 cup Cabernet Sauvignon or other dry red wine
• 1/4 cup cherry preserves
• 1 tablespoon amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur)
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups vanilla ice cream

Preparation

1. Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Stir in liqueur and lemon juice.
4. Serve warm over ice cream.