Sour Cherry Jam and Sour Cherry Pie

My neighbors have a sour cherry tree that hangs over into our yard, and they let us pick the cherries. So far this summer I have made 3 cherry pies and 21 jars of sour cherry jam. The jam recipe came from the packet inside a box of low sugar Sure-Jel (although you could use any other type of low sugar fruit pectin. For the pie, I use the same recipe for pie crust as in the post for pumpkin pie. For the cherry pie, use one recipe for the bottom crust and another recipe for the lattice. To make the lattice, roll out the crust as normal then cut the crust into strips and make a lattice (see pictures at bottom). Here are the recipes:

Sour Cherry Jam
5 cups very finely chopped sour cherries (make sure you pit them first)
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 box low sugar needed Sure-Jel or other low sugar needed fruit pectin
1 cup water

Stir together sugar and fruit pectin in a large saucepan. Add 1 cup water and stir to dissolve. Heat over medium heat till mixture boils, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute. Add cherries and quickly stir together. Pour into jars, leaving some space at the top for expanding during freezing. Put the lids tightly on the jars and keep at room temperature for 24 hours. Store 1 jar in the fridge to eat right away and put the other jars in the freezer. Because this is a freezer jam recipe and the jars are not sealed with a canner, do not store at room temperature after the first 24 hours.

Sour Cherry Pie
2 recipes for pie crust
4 cups pitted sour cherries
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Roll out one crust and use for bottom crust of pie. Stir together the cherries, sugar, and flour. Pour into crust. Sprinkle almond extract over filling. Roll out second crust. Cut into thin strips and use to make a lattice crust (see pictures). Bake at 425F for 35-45 minutes with foil covering the edges of the pie crust. Remove foil 15 minutes before done cooking. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes then enjoy :)

                                       To make the lattice, lay all the strips in one direction. Fold every other one back.

                               Continue doing this folding every other one back until the lattice is complete.

                                          The finished pie!