No need for store-bought when homemade is so simple.
We had soooo many apples in late July. Our farm has a few apple trees, which really need some TLC, but are still producing fruit. Thus, we picked and picked over a few weeks. We pickled some, made infused liquors with others, kept some for eating, and, of course, I made some homemade applesauce. Even my husband, a non-fan of applesauce, enjoyed every bite of it.
The original post from September 2012
Applesauce that comes in a jar has never been exciting for me. It can be nearly flavorless or overly sweet. When my son was little, however, it was the easiest way to get him to eat fruit. So, I would buy the all-natural applesauce, and he would gladly eat it with lunch or as a snack. What I didn’t consider was that applesauce could be better than that.
All it took to remedy that was to take a trip to the apple orchard with my then preschool-aged son. When you come home on a crisp fall day with a bagful of apples, what are you to do but cook? Then and there I developed an affinity for homemade applesauce. What makes it so much better? Let me count the ways:
- It is served warm! There’s nothing like a just from the stove bowl of applesauce to get rid of a chill.
- You can control the sweetness. Apples are naturally sweet; the sauce needs only a sprinkle of sugar.
- You can season it with cinnamon to your liking.
- There’s more texture to it. A little bit of chunkiness in my applesauce is preferred.
If, like me, you don’t enjoy packaged applesauce, you need to give this recipe a try. Actually, even if you like store bought applesauce, you should give this recipe a try. It may change your mind as to which one is better.
- 2 pounds apples (approximately 4 large)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- cinnamon
- Peel, core, and chop apples.
- Combine apples, lemon juice, and water in a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 25 minutes.
- Mash apples with a potato masher.
- Add sugar, stirring to combine. Heat for another 5 minutes.
- Season with cinnamon as desired.
- Can be eaten warm or chilled before serving.
Photo courtesy of bfohack2.
