In a deep, heavy-bottomed pot, combine 4 cups of peeled, cored, and finely chopped pears (such as Bosc, Anjou, or Bartlett), 2 cups of white sugar, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, and fragrant spices like 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional) and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg (optional).

Allow the mixture to rest for a period of thirty minutes. This resting time will enable the sugar to draw out all the natural juices from the pears.

Put the pot over medium heat and stir now and again until all the sugar has completely dissolved.

Bring up to a simmer and keep cooking for almost 45 minutes to an hour. Stir once in a while as it cooks. The aim is to soften the pears and get a thickened consistency.

When the preserves have reached your desired thickness, remove the pot from the heat and leave to cool a bit.

Utilize sterilized jars to spoon out the preserves, leaving 1/4 inch of headroom at the top. This space allows for expansion during processing.

Seal the jars with their lids and process them in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. This step ensures a perfect seal and increases the shelf life of the preserves.

Finally, store your pear preserves in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight to preserve maximum flavor.