County Fair Cherry Pie

Directions

1. 1
   In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt; stir in cherries. Let stand 30 minutes.
2. 2
   Cook and stir cherry mixture over medium heat until mixture boils and starts to thicken.
3. 3
   Pour into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Cool. Cover with lids; refrigerate or freeze.
4. 4
   3 cups filling for one pie.
5. 5
   To make pie: Preheat oven to 375°. Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom pastry; add filling. (If filling is frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.) Flute edges of pastry. Bake 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cover edges during the last 20 minutes to prevent overbrowning. Cool on a wire rack.
6. 6
   Meanwhile, cut stars from remaining pastry, using floured star-shaped cutters. Place on an ungreased
7. 7
   . Bake at 375° for 7-11 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
8. 8
   To serve, dust stars with confectioners' sugar; place over pie. Lightly dust edges of pie with confectioners' sugar.