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.

Step 1: 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. 

Step 2: 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.