Spiced Pears

7 pounds cooking pears
2 cups vinegar
4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 sticks cinnamon, broken
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 lemon, sliced and seeded

Peel and core pears and cut in half. Immediately place in cold water to which a little lemon juice has been added to prevent turning dark. Combine all other ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, then add drained pears. Reduce heat and simmer until pears are tender and can be pierced with a straw. Place pears in jars. Continue boiling syrup 10 minutes and pour over pears, including some spices in each jar. Seal.

Yields about 6 pints.

Red or green food coloring may be added to jars if pears are to be used for Christmas.