Guignes

... or sour cherries, also known as griottes. We used to have a tree in our garden, but the birds almost always got them before we did, and then it was killed off by a hard frost a couple of years ago. Because they are essentially wild cherries, it's rare to see them for sale, so I couldn't resist a small bag of them at the market on Wednesday. Yes, they really are this colour!

They are tiny and really difficult to stone. So I avoided the problem by layering them in a Kilner jar with sugar and brandy. Now we have to wait till at least Christmas before opening, preferably much longer. The last time I made these was in 1987, and we still have a few left :)