In a lot of marriages, I’m sure there are certain ways that you did things before you were married that are different than what your spouse did. One of those things is how to make apple sauce. I love adding the cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, etc to it and Kevin just likes lots of sugar! That’s how his family makes it and I admit that it’s good, but I like mine doctored up a little more.
We got home yesterday from being at the Iowa State football game and I had every intention to deal with my large amounts of jalapeños, but I was missing one ingredient to make Candied Jalapeños, so I changed courses and decided to make apple sauce while the boys napped instead.
Before they laid down for their naps, we went outside to pick up apples from under the trees. They are starting to fall off like crazy, but most of them are still OK if you use them right way. So HD and I sorted through them and then gave the bruised ones to the cows to munch on. AJ just hung out in their “new-to-us” John Deere Gator. Luckily it has a seatbelt so we can strap AJ in. He absolutely loves riding around with his brother!
It was the most perfect fall day yesterday. A little overcast and cool. I loved it! After I got the boys down for their naps, I opened all the windows (and realized that they desperately needed cleaning) and cranked up the stove. I had three large pots of apples going at one point.
My way takes the longest to make since I have to peel and core the apples. Kevin’s ways is much faster as you just chunk them up and throw everything in the pot. Below are the two different “recipes” that you can adjust according to your own taste. Both ways work great to freeze. Just keep all those sour cream containers, etc throughout the year and then you’ll be ready to freeze a lot of apple sauce in the fall!
First is my way:
Freezer Apple Sauce #1
Ingredients
2 dozen apples, peeled, cored and chopped into large chunks
1 1/2-2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Peel, core and chop apples into large chunks. Place in a large pot.
2. Add all of the other ingredients and mix well.
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| Front left is my apple sauce, back left is Kevin’s apple sauce that has been cooking for awhile, front right is a new pot just starting to cook and back left is corn for supper. |
4. Place part of the mixture in a ricer (I think that’s what it’s called!) and press the apples through it. By using a ricer you don’t have to peel and core the apples. Note: If you don’t have a ricer, then you can peel and core the apples at the beginning and just mash them with a potato masher or large spoon. Continue with the remainder of the apples.
5. Place the apple sauce back into the large pot. Over low to medium low heat, add sugar to taste and mix it in well, stirring continuously. After all your hard work, you don’t want it to scorch now, so keep stirring! Everyone’s amount of sugar is going to be different with the recipe because it all depends on the type of apples that you are using and your sweetness preference.
6. When the sugar is all mixed in, place the apple sauce in plastic containers and let cool completely. Place in the freezer to enjoy at a later time!
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| Printable Recipe for Freezer Apple Sauce #1 Printable Recipe for Freezer Apple Sauce #2 |
I’m laughing out loud, Sara. You have nailed our side of the family’s applesauce method to a “T.” It is hilarous to read it in someone else’s point of view.
Will Kevin even eat your applesauce? Every time I serve him something with cloves in it, he reminds me again of how much he hates them.
Jim-yes he did eat a few bites oft applesauce. He didn’t say anything about the cloves so it must not have been too strong for him! Or he knew I had two pots of “his” applesauce on the stove so
he decided not to complain about mine!