As the seasons change and fresh fruits come into abundance, there’s no better way to capture their vibrant flavors than by making jam and jelly recipes. Even if you are a novice in the kitchen ...

Add the pears and cook, uncovered, until the pears are tender, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and let the pears cool in the liquid. Cover and chill for several hours.

After processing, remove lid but leave jars in canner for 5 minutes before removing jars to a towel laid on a heat-safe surface. Let jars stand undisturbed for 24 hours. Check seals after 24 hours.

For pears and apples, peel, core and cut into wedges or chunks. Put the fruit in preserving jars. I use Fowlers because they’re reusable for a century if you look after them, but any big jar ...

Pears are one of the signature fruits of autumn, and a nice change of pace from summer’s delicate fruits and berries. Though there are thousands of varieties, Bartletts are the best known.