Pear Pickles - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 lbs pears, peeled,cored and halved
4 cups water
2 teaspoons fresh fruit, mixed with the water in a large glass bowl
1 teaspoon pickling spices
1 teaspoon clove (whole)
1 inch gingerroot
3 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups white vinegar (thats at least 5 percent acidity)
1/2 cup lemon slice (thin-around 1 small lemon)

Preparation

As you prepare the pears add them to the fruit fresh bath.
Tie pickling spice, cloves and ginger root in a spice bag.
Prepare liquid by combining the spice bags, sugar, water, vinegar and lemon slices in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan.
Bring to a boil, cover and boil gently for 5 min.
Transfer pears to pickling liquid to create a single layer.
Cook 7 minutes.
Remove and place in a large bowl.
Repeat until all pears are cooked.
When all the pears are cooked pour the pickling liquid over them.
Cover and let stand 12-18 hours-in a cool place.
Pack pears in clean hot jars-remove spice bags and bring liquid to a boil.
Pour over pears leaving 1/2 inch head space.
Seal and process 15 minutes at altitudes up to 1000 feet.