Homemade Cherry Pie Filling

Ingredients

 * 4 cups pitted cherries
 * 1½ cups cherry juice
 * 1 cup sugar
 * 4 tbsp cornstarch
 * ½ tsp almond extract (optional)

Directions

 * 1) If frozen cherries are used, heat in saucepan just until juice flows as cherries thaw.
 * 2) Drain before cherries are warm.
 * 3) If cherries are sugared, reduce sugar in recipe to taste.
 * 4) Stir sugar and cornstarch together, add small amount of juice to make a paste.
 * 5) Stir into juice; cook, stirring until sauce thickens.
 * 6) Stir in drained cherries and extract.
 * 7) Cool.