Wilderness Cherry Pie Filling

Wilderness Cherry Pie Filling

2 qts. Pitted sour pie cherries

2 ½ cups sugar

6 TB cornstarch

¼ tsp salt

2 ¼ cups water

¼ cup lemon juice

add 12 drops of red food coloring.

At time of making pie, add almond flavoring, cinnamon, and butter

Combine cherries with 1 ¾ cup water and ¼ cup lemon juice and 2 cups sugar.  Boil gently without stirring for 5 minutes or until foaming ceases.  Remove from heat.  In another bowl combine ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, 6 TB cornstarch, ¼ tsp salt.  Mix until cornstarch is well dispersed.  Add mixture to cooked cherries.  Mix just enough to stir in.  Don’t overmix.  Bring to gentle boil for one minute.  Pour while hot into hot jars.  Leave 1 in headspace.  Process 30 minutes for qts.  20 min for pts.  Makes 2 ½ qts.