1 Rinse The Fruit. If You Working With Stone Fruit, Take Out The Pits, Chop The Fruit. If Working With Apples Or Pears, Peel And Core Them, Then Chop. If Working With Grapes, De-Stem Them. Taste The Fruit Before Proceeding. Note How Sweet The Fruit Is. If Very Sweet (Ripe Concord Grapes For Example) You Will Not Need To Add Any Sugar. If Still A Little Tart, You May Need To Add Some Sugar In The Next Step. 2 Place Fruit In A Large Saucepan. Add A Half Cup Of Water For Every 4 Cups Of Chopped Fruit. Bring To A Simmer, Cover And Let Cook On A Low Heat For 10-15 Minutes, Or Until The Fruit Is Cooked Through. Uncover And Stir. Use A Potato Masher To Mash Up The Fruit In The Pan. Taste The Fruit And Determine What And How Much Sugar, Lemon Juice, Or Spices To Add. Add Sugar In Small Amounts (1 Tbsp At A Time If Working With 4 Cups Of Fruit), To Desired Level Of Sweetness. Add Lemon Juice One Teaspoon At A Time To Help Brighten The Flavor Of The Fruit. Add A Pinch Or Two Of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Or Other Spices To Augment The Flavor. Continue To Simmer And Stir Until Any Added Sugar Is Completely Dissolved And The Fruit Pur