Although pitting cherries can take a little bit of work, the cherry jam you wind up with is worth the effort. This page includes a great cherry jam recipe as well as step by step instructions for how to make cherry jam.

Cherry jam is great for breakfast on muffins or biscuits. Cherry jam is also a nice base for sauces for pork, venison, or duck.

• 4 cups of sweet cherries, washed and pitted (about 3 pounds)
• 2.5 cups of sugar for sweet cherries
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Combine the cherries, sugar, and lemon juice in a heavy bottom saucepan.
2. Bring the cherry mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Insert a cooking thermometer into the jam when it begins to boil, and raise the heat to medium high.
4. Continue cooking; stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 220°F.
5. Remove from heat and cool.

1. You can use substitute sour cherries, but increase the sugar to 4 cups and omit the lemon juice.
2. Add a tablespoon of cognac after the jam is cooked.