Applesauce

Our wonderful neighbors have surely blessed us with the invitation to any fruit from their apple and pear trees. So we filled several bushels!

Applesauce

13 pounds apples (used Granny Smith)
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
5 cups water

Hot water canner

Large sauce pan or soup pot

Ladle

Funnel
Jar Lifter

Jars, lids, rims

Peeler and Knife / Apple Peeler Corer / Food Mill

Wash apples.

Peel and core apples if you don't have a food mill. You can use an apple peeler corer to make quick work.

Place apples in a very large pot with the water. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Cook on high for 10 minutes. Then reduce heat to medium for 35 minutes. Stirring often. If there are any remaining large pieces of apples remaining, you can use a potato masher to crush them.

Food mill directions: Cut apple into quarters. No need to remove peels or seeds. Yippie!!

Place apples in a very large pot with the water. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Cook on high for 10 minutes. Then reduce heat to medium for 35 minutes. Stirring often.
Run apples through a food mill with the apple screen in place. And out comes applesauce.

If you are new to Boiling-Water Bath Canning, I recommend reading my tutorial on this type of canning.

Get your jars ready. Jars should be clean, can run through the dishwasher or wash in hot soapy water. Place funnel on top of the jar and fill with hot applesauce, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Wipe rims of jars clean with warm wash cloth. Place hot lids on jars and tighten with rims.

Process in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes. Remove jars with jar remover carefully. Place hot jars on level surface. I cover my counter top with a double layered kitchen towel and place jars on top. Using a hot pad or glove, check that the rims are tightened.

As the jars cool, you will hear a "ping" when the lid seals. Make sure all of your jars have sealed. They are sealed if the button in the middle of the lid in depressed. If you have any jars that have not sealed, you can reprocess them or store the jar in the refrigerator for use.

Makes 10-11 pints.

Please check with your local extension office for any changes due to altitude for times or temperatures. 

Above instructions are for elevation 1000 feet or below.

Quick Homemade Applesauce

Nothing says fall like the smell of freshly cooked apples. This recipe is so easy that you can make it quickly to be a side with dinner tonight.

Quick Homemade Applesauce:
4 apples (used Granny Smith variety)
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
1/4 c water

Wash your apples. Peel and core apples. Cut apples into small pieces, about 8 pieces per apple. Or you can use an apple corer for quick work. We have a Norpro apple peeler / corer, that works great.

Place apples into a large microwavable bowl. Add sugar, cinnamon and water. Stir apple mixture.
Microwave covered for 5 minutes on high. Stir and microwave covered another 5 minutes.
Stir applesauce one more time. No need to mash as the apples should not be chunky.

Makes about 6 servings.

I think this applesauce tastes like warm apple pie filling. Who wouldn't love dessert as a side dish with dinner?

Coming up will be my recipe for canning Applesauce. Yum!