Place apples and sugar in an eight-quart pot. Add water to barely cover.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for one hour.

For Apricot Compote: Add apricots and cook for the full hour.

For Strawberry Compote: When compote is done, stir in strawberries and strawberry jello. Cover pot until cool.

For Plum Compote: Add plums and cook with apples for the full hour.

For Peach and Plum Compote: Reduce apples to four pounds and add plums and peaches. Cook all fruits for one hour. (Apples can be omitted completel; in this case use five pounds peaches and 3 pounds plums.)