Homemade Applesauce

While every year we buy an obscene amount of apples from Lynd's Fruit Farm and my girls love applesauce, I had never actually bought apples with the intention to make applesauce until a week ago. What took me so long?? Homemade applesauce is so easy. You peel and chop some apples, throw it in a pot with some sugar and cinnamon, then mash it when the apples are tender and you have applesauce.

Start out with a bunch of apples. The recipe I used calls for 4 apples, but I three-times-ed the ingredients (thriced-it?!). The apples I used were the Jonathan variety. Peel and large dice them.

Add about 3/4 c. of water, 1/4 c. sugar and 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon for every 4 apples you use. I will scale back the sugar by about half next time as it was much sweeter than the girls are used to eating and I don't think it needed quite that much sugar.

Cook covered at medium heat for 20-25 minutes, or until the apples are tender.

Let cool, then mash till you reach your desired consistency. Feed it to your kids and watch them swoon. It happened in my home. It could happen in yours. This will last in the fridge for a couple days, so if you thrice your recipe like I did, share it with some friends or put it in the freezer to save for another day. Pork chops, anyone?

Homemade Applesauce

• 4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher.

Source: Allrecipes.com Sarah's Applesauce