As soon as you get home from the orchard, wash the cherries in cold water.
This removes any dirt and pesticides sprayed on at the orchard.
Remove any stems and leaves.
Next, pit the cherries using the pitter of your choice.
This step can be very messy and sticky for the inexperienced pitter.
Next, finely chop or grind the cherries.
A Foley Food Mill can be used to grind them
You will need 4 cups of chopped cherries
It is important to measure all ingredients exactly in order for the jam to set properly
On to the next step
Preparing the Jars and Lids