Life in the upper Sonoran Desert has its perks. Among them: six months of peerless weather and more prickly pear pods than you can shake a rain stick at. Rather than letting the pods go to waste, ...

Instructions: Toss the sliced pears with the sugar and lemon slices in a large bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. (This step is crucial. Do not skip ...