4-1/2 pounds pitted cherries
2 quarts water
1 tablespoon pickling salt
1 teaspoon alum
4-1/2 pounds sugar
juice of one lemon
1 ounce red food coloring
1 ounce almond extract
Soak cherries overnight in water, salt and alum. Next day: Drain and rinse cherries in cold water. Combine sugar lemon juice and food coloring; add cherries and bring to boil. Remove from heat and let stand 24 hours. Next day: Bring to a boil, add almond extract. Can while boiling hot.