Desserts- My Favorite Dinner Party

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups fresh or frozen (not thawed) pitted sour cherries (3/4 lb)
• 1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons Di Saronno Amaretto or other almond-flavored liqueur
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds, toasted and cooled completely
• 1 1/4 cups fine vanilla-wafer crumbs (from about 40 wafers)
• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted
• 4 large egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 1/3 cups chilled heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons sweet Marsala wine or sweet Sherry
• 3/4 cup coarsely ground amaretti cookies (from about 20 one-inch cookies)