Cheater Cherry Pitter
Even though I have two cherry trees, I haven't invested in a cherry pitter. I actually got this tip from a cooking magazine (can't remember) but it's such a great tip, I want to share. Supplies: fresh cherries, paper clip, cookie sheet and bowl.
Make the Pitter Tool
Wash the paper clip. Open the paper clip. It doesn't matter if it's an 'S' shape or a 'C' shape.
De-pitting the Cherries
Remove the stem. Insert the paperclip into and with a scooping motion, loosen the pit and draw the pit out. It for some reason, the pit doesn't come out, pinch the wire to make a smaller 'scoop'. Using this technique, I pitted 8 cups of cherries in 1-2 hours. I'm not really sure how long it took because it's such a simple method, I watched TV and lost track of time.