Instructions: * Or rum, kirsch or spirit of your choice.

This may be the ultimate romantic dessert. If nothing else, it gives you an excuse to lower the lights while you flambe the cherries, and nobody said you have to turn the lights back up right away.

This is traditionally finished in a chafing-dish at table side. You may complete the preparation on the stove, but some of the drama will be lost.

Combine the drained cherries, lemon rind, 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and 4 Tbs. cognac in a small bowl and allow cherries to macerate for at least one hour.

When ready to prepare, drain the macerating juices from the cherries and blend the liquid with cornstarch and with 3 or 4 Tbs. of the reserved canning juices. Heat until thickened, adding more of the cherry juice if needed. Before entering the dining room stir in the cherries and heat through. To flambe, add the cherry mixture to the chafing-dish, sprinkle with 3 Tbs. granulated sugar and add 1/2 cup cognac. Heat and ignite vapor with a lighted match. Stir with a log handled metal spoon until the flame dies down. Serve over vanilla ice cream.

Serves 2 to 4.

NOTES : Send your comments, suggestions, and critiques to

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.