Recipe Preserved Cherries

Check eight half-pint jars and rings for damage, then sterilize the jars in simmering water for 10 minutes while washing the lids in warm, soapy water. Pack the jars with cherries up to the neck and prepare a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water until clear. Pour the hot syrup over the fruit leaving 1/8-inch of headspace, remove any air bubbles, and wipe the rims before securing the lids. Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes, then let them rest undisturbed for 24 hours. Finally, verify the seals by pressing the center of each lid and store the jars in a cool, dark place without their rings.