Bottled Cherries

Bottled Cherries 

In each quart mason jar put ¼ c. sugar.

Pour about 1 c. boiling water into each and shake bottles around to dissolve sugar.

Rinse cherries and cut off any bad parts; but do not remove skin. 

**You can remove the pits, but I don't; I think it takes too long.

Fill mason jars with cherries, leaving 1/2"-1" headspace.

Pour hot or boiling water over cherries until jar is full.

Remove air bubbles with a knife or plastic spatula by running it down the sides of the bottle.

Make sure rim of bottle is clean and free of cracks.

Place new lids on bottles and screw on bands.

Steam quarts for 25 minutes, pints for 20.
Remember to adjust for altitude - Utah time is 35 minutes for quarts, 25 for pints.

(Do not start timer until steam is consistently coming out.)