There is nothing quite like the taste of a homemade pie!  It takes a little bit of doing, but it is so worth all your efforts.  This cherry pie tastes so much better than the ones you can buy in stores, and what’s great about it is I know exactly what’s in it!

5 cups fresh cherries
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/4 cup water
Double pie crust recipe

Directions:

Prepare pie crust recipe. Roll out and dough and place in a deep dish pie plate.  Roll out second pie crust.  You can make a lattice pie or a double crust pie, which ever you prefer.  Wash, stem and pit cherries and cut in half if desired, place in a saucepan.   Mix together sugar, salt, and corn starch, stir until combined.  Pour sugar mixture over cherries then add water and almond flavoring.  Heat stirring occasionally over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, continue cooking until liquids have thickened.  (2-3 minutes).  Remove from heat and pour into unbaked pie shell.  Top with remaining pie crust or cut strips to make a lattice pie shell. Loosely cover with aluminum foil or use baking ring to prevent the crust from burning.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Remove foil and turn oven down to 400 degrees and cook 20 minutes longer.  Cool completely before slicing or serving. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles if desired.

~Marsha Bradford