As promised, today, we're going to talk about a couple of things that I did with the gorgeous basket of apples that Michelle and I brought home from Jaswell's Farm.
One of the easiest things to do with an abundance of apples is to make applesauce. If you mostly buy commercial applesauce, you're in for a great treat when you make your own and it's incredibly easy. There are even microwave recipes out there. Here's how:
Fill a heavy-bottomed pot with as many peeled and chopped apples as you like. You'll need to leave just enough room to stir them. Add 1/4-inch of water--just enough to keep the apples from burning. If you're planning to make chunky sauce and you're hankering for cinnmon-rich sauce, now would be the time to add some sugar and cinnamon to taste. You can fine-tune it later.
Cook the apples on medium heat until they're soft.
If you want something closer to store-bought, pull out your handy food mill or ricer and puree the apples. You can also use a food processor, working in batches.
If you didn't add cinnamon and sugar earlier, now is the time to add it (optionally, of course). Add a half-teaspoon of cinnamon at a time, stir, and taste.
To store, either can it using a reputable canning recipe, refrigerate for a week or two, or freeze it in small containers (8oz or less).
I like to can it in the small 4oz jars so I have a "snack sized" treat to throw into my work lunch bag. You could do the same using paper cups and toss the frozen cups into a zip-top bag. Who needs Mott's when you have your own homemade applesauce?
Incidentally, if you'll be using a food mill, which removes seeds and skin, feel free to leave the skin, cores, and seeds in. After cooking in pureeing, you'll find that your sauce has a gorgeous rosey red hue like this.
Tomorrow, we'll talk Apple Butter...
Posts
I <3 apple butter!
ReplyDelete