Quality: Select fresh, very ripe, and firm cherries. Unsweetened frozen cherries may be used. If sugar has been added, rinse it off while the fruit is still frozen.

Procedure: (See Table 1 for suggested quantities) Rinse and pit fresh cherries, and hold in cold water. To prevent stem end browning, use ascorbic acid solution. For fresh fruit, place 6 cups at a time in 1 gallon boiling water. Boil each batch 1 minute after the water returns to a boil. Drain but keep heated fruit in a covered bowl or pot. Combine sugar and Clear Jel(tm) in a large saucepan and add water, if desired, add cinnamon, almond extract, and food coloring. Stir mixture and cook over medium high heat until mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Add lemon juice and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Fold in drained cherries immediately and fill jars with mixture without delay, leaving 1 inch headspace. Adjust lids and process immediately according to the recommendations in Table 2.

Table 1. Cherry Pie Filling. (See above for Quantities of Ingredients Needed For 1 Quart or 7 Quarts)

Table 2. Recommended process time for Cherry Pie Filling in a boiling-water canner.

Style of Pack: Hot. Jar Size: Pints or Quarts.

Process Time at Altitudes of 0 - 1, 000 ft: 30 min.

1, 001 - 3, 000 ft: 35 min.

3, 001 - 6, 000 ft: 40 min.

Above 6, 000 ft: 45 min.

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* Meal-Master format courtesy of Karen Mintzias