Sour cherries in syrup

Ingredients for 10 servings:

• 1 kg sour cherries
• 1 kg sugar and 1 glass of sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 vanilla pod(s), the pulp

Instructions

Working time approx. 1 hour; Rest time approx. 2 hours; Total time approx. 3 hours

Wisina-Wisinada gliko tou koutaliou

Pit the sour cherries using a suitable utensil, reserving the juice. Then place the cherries and their juice in a large pot and pour the sugar over them. Let it steep overnight so that enough juice can form. Bring the sour cherries and sugar to a boil, adding the seeds of the vanilla pod as you go. Let it boil until the juice has turned into a syrup. Check the setting time every now and then to make sure the syrup doesn’t set too thick. Add the lemon juice just before it’s boiling. Pour the cherries and syrup into hot, rinsed but dry jars. Don’t seal until the contents have cooled! You can serve the cherries with ice, as a refreshing drink with water, like the Greeks do, or as a spread on bread.