Applesauce

I still have a ton of apples. Since I just made Apple Pie Filling in a Jar I didn't need anymore of that. So I made applesauce. Wow how easy was that?!! It always freaked me out, for some reason I thought it was super-duper hard. NOPE! I like applesauce and so does Lukas. The recipe is a little loose, if you have tart apples- a little sugar is in order. But start with sweet apples and no sugar needed. Having access to a food mill makes it even easier. But not a lot of people have a food mill. I'm not even sure why I have one, this is the first time using it. I just herd it was a great tool to have around- oh and I picked it up for $2 at goodwill. But if a food mill is not available all you have to do is peel the apples.

Applesauce:
apples washed and cored
water or apple juice
sugar- to taste

If using a food mill no need to peel the apples, if not get going. Then core the apples. No need to cut or chop after cored. Put apples in a large stock pot, fill pot with about 1 1/2 inches of water or apple juice. Cook on medium heat till apples are fully cooked. If you peeled the apples then just mash up with a potato masher. If you have a food mill - run through it and voila applesauce. If you used tart apples add sugar to taste. Can be stored in the fridge or processed in a water bath canner 15 min for pints, 20 min for quarts. Once canned it can be stored for 3 years.

Apple Pie Filling in a Jar

I recently was blessed with a huge bag full of apples. I needed to work fast so I wouldn't lose them like the box of plums a few weeks ago. I thought of making apple pie filling. When I want to make a apple pie later all I have to do is make a crust. This was fairly easy. However a small amount of canning equipment will be key. As stated in my post jars-jars-and-more-jars from last year everyone knows that I have way too many canning jars, and I have acquired even more in the last year. I used quart jars, and ended  up with 7. It was hard to say how many apples I used since they were all different sizes. I used about 1/2 of a paper grocery bag full. If you are new to canning and want to learn How to Can this is a great website that will help with the safety precautions. It takes some time to peel, core and slice the apples.

This is only 2/3 of the apples I used

Put lemon juice in the water to prevent browning

Apple Pie Filling:

Apples peeled, cored, sliced 1/4 inch thick
8 cups of water
1 cup water
1 cup Cornstarch
4 1/2 cups sugar
1 TBS Cinnamon
2 tsp Ginger
1 tsp Nutmeg
1/4 tsp Salt
1 TBS lemon Juice
7 Cinnamon sticks

Have hot clean quart jars with 1 cinnamon stick per jar ready. Have your boiling water ready, and lids and bands ready to place on jars once they are ready. With sliced apples standing by.
Combine 8 cups of water with Sugar, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Salt in  a large pot and bring to a boil. Mix 1 cup water with cornstarch. Slowly add the cornstarch "slurry" into the boiling sugar mixture while mixing vigurously with a wire whisk.  Once it's thickened up take it off the heat and add the sliced apples. Stir the apples in and quickly add to the hot quart jars leaving 1 inch headspace.  Process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes.
Once it's all stored away you can make apple pie with ease.