We picked so many apples that I knew I had to kick into full gear so that they wouldn't go to waste.
I've never made applesauce before and I never really ate it growing up, but I remember my daughter tasting it once and loving it, so I thought I'd try and make some myself.
It turned out amazingly! All three of us are enjoying this applesauce everyday. I've frozen some and read that it can last several months if packaged properly, but I doubt ours will last that long!
Ingredients:
12 apples (of your choosing)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup brown sugar (I used both dark and golden)
A splash of vanilla
1 cinnamon stick, broken (or ground cinnamon)
pinch of salt
Directions:
1. Pee, core and slice or chop the apples. They don't have to be that small as they will break down on their own as they cook.
2. Place in a cast iron Dutch oven (or any pot you have handy). My apples went right to the top of my pot.
3. Squeeze the juice of a lemon over top. Sprinkle with the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon and give it a stir to mix it all together.
4. Pour water to cover the bottom of the pot. I actually put quite a bit more because of how full it was, maybe about 1/3 of the way up, and I think it turned out great! Sprinkle with salt and give it one more stir.
5. Cook over medium-high heat, covered. Stir occasionally to prevent any sticking and to distribute the heat and flavours throughout. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes, or until the apples break down. The longer you let it simmer, the softer the apples get and the more they break down.
6. Remove from heat, remove the cinnamon stick and mash with a potato masher or puree in a blender. I mashed mine because I preferred the lumpier texture.
And voila! You have some yummy applesauce. It tastes just like the inside of a really good apple pie!
