Spiced pears

• 4lb (1.8 kg) pears
• 1 piece dried root ginger

Conference pears should be used for this recipe. Peel and halve the pears, then scoop out cores with a teaspoon. As you prepare the fruit, place in a bowl of cold water with a little lemon juice or salt added to prevent discoloration. Bruise the ginger, crush the cloves and allspice and tie them in a muslin bag along with the stick cinnamon.

Put the muslin bag, sugar and vinegar into a