Early summer is cherry pickin'time.Sour cherries make fine pies & good eating right from the tree ( if you have a 'sour tooth').My trees are young and produced more this year than last.My neighbour has 2 mature trees that were nicely filled and they invited us to pick since they dislike sour cherries.Even the chickens like to help pick cherries !
Cherry pitters are a must and can be bought in antique stores ( like the one we have here).
A good 9" pie recipe: 4 cups pitted cherries
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 Tbs Minute Tapioca
1/4 tsp almond extract
2 pats of butter (or margarine) placed on top cherry mixture in the pie shell).Place dough crust on top and cut a few slits in top of crust.Bake in preheated oven 375 F. until golden brown crust and mixture starts to bubble through.( About 1 hour).