Sweet, juicy pears are in season and are so versatile to bake with. I especially love the combination of pears with vanilla. This week I felt like trying my hand at a bit of confectionery. The French term for these deliciously soft sweets is "pâté de fruit", which means "fruit paste".  Unlike jelly sweets set with gelatine, these are softer in texture and not quite as chewy or jelly-like. The secret to achieving this texture is using pectin. Pectin is a soluble fibre naturally found in the cell walls of plants. Citrus fruits and apples contain high amounts and are used to produce...