We have had such a glut of cherries here in Washington this season. Bad
news for the growers because they have so many of them they have to sell
them at lower prices or let them rot. Good news for cherry lovers and
preservers. Safeway has had them for 97 cents a pound this past week and
with a club card, they were only 77 cents a pound. I bought about 7 pounds
this morning and then washed and pitted them all. Gave them a few pulses in
the food processor to chop and measured them out into 4-cup containers since
that's the amount the Ball pectin calls for to make a batch. I got enough
for three batches, but I've put them in the refrigerator for now. It's noon
and the temperature in the house is 85F and 87 outside and it's supposed to
be 98 today. Tomorrow they say it may be 100 to 105. This is Western
Washington we're talking about! My house is not air-conditioned [sigh].

I also realized I don't have enough sugar so I have to make a trip to Cash
and Carry to buy a 25-pound bag. And I'm not sure where I put all my pectin
(that's what happens when you decided to tidy up your preserving cupboard!).

At least I have plenty of jars, lids and rings.

-Marilyn