European settlers had hardly stepped on the soil of the New World before they began planting cherry trees. Early French colonists from Normandy brought pits that they planted along the Saint Lawrence River and on down into the Great Lakes area. Cherry trees were part of the garden of French settlers as they established such cities as Detroit, Vincennes, and other Midwestern settlements.

Wild, nomadic horsemen from various tribes of Tartary, invent the century's earliest known precursor of the hamburger. Legend has it that as they pushed their way across Russia and Eastern Europe, it was their custom to place a filet under their saddle for safekeeping. Find out what happened next.

From now through August, while deep, dark Bing and rosy-cheeked, golden Rainier cherries are in season, nearly every day I find myself buying a few generous, stem-dangling handfuls of the glistening, plump fruit I see at local green-markets and greengrocers.

Sandwiches - easy, quick and convenient - fit into everyone's brisk lifestyle. Whether it's family lunch time, a meal on the go, desk top dining, or a tailgate picnic, sandwiches qualify as a satisfying and easy way to feed one or a crowd. Because sandwiches are a mainstay in our daily diet, cooks are always looking for new ideas. Try the Roasted Red Pepper, Herb, and Pineapple Sandwich featured in this article.

Blackberries: Picked firm, the many offspring of the wild Pacific blackberry are tart-good for canning and pies. Picked fully ripe, they are fully soft, fragrant, sweet, and best eaten raw. One form of blackberry or another is in season from June through mid September.

Are you taking the 5 A Day challenge? You may be if you find yourself snacking on raw vegetables instead of potato chips; adding fruit to your cereal at breakfast; using the salad bar when you go out for lunch or to the grocery store; loading up on juice instead of a usual coffee, tea or soda.