Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce

Ingredients

• 3 McIntosh apples
• peeled
• cored and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 ripe Bartlett pears
• peeled
• cored and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

1. Combine the apples, pears, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
3. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the apples and pears are very soft but still a bit chunky, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Taste the mixture and add the remaining tablespoon of sugar if desired.
5. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir a few times until the sauce is well combined with small chunks.
6. Cool to room temperature.
7. Remove the cinnamon sticks and serve.
8. (For a smoother sauce, remove from heat, remove the cinnamon sticks and then whisk the mixture until smooth before cooling.)