Food Friday

Doesn’t fall time scream apples?? 🍏🍎

I love apples!! Apples cider, applesauce, apple crisp, caramel apples, apple pie?? What am I missing??

My kids LOVE applesauce!! And with apples all over the place here in Utah I had to make some homemade!

If you haven’t learned this about me already, I love my slow cooker!

I use it a ton!! When there are apples cooking in your home all day.. especially with some cinnamon…. ooohhh it seems heavenly!!

If you have a spiral apple peeler/slicer it makes prepping this really fast!!

For this batch I used 11 red delicious apples and about 4 Granny Smith apples. When a sweeter apple is used I don’t like to add any sugar. It is plenty sweet! Then you will have a  complete guilt free 1 ingredient snack!

After all the apples are peeled and thiny sliced, place in slow cooker.

You can add 1/4 cup of water if you want the applesauce thinner. I didn’t add any water.

You can also add cinnamon. I’ve tried with and without it. It is yummy either way. The batch that I didn’t add cinnamon to I like to sprinkle a little on top when I eat a bowl. Apples and cinnamon is such a good combo, is t it?

Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low 4-6 hours. Be sure to stir every hour or so.

Once the apples are tender you just need to decide if you want chunks or no chunks.  If you like chunks, then you can use a potato masher to mash up the apples to your desired consistency.  I like “no chunks”.  I used a hand held blender.

If you don’t have a hand held blender, than you and use a food processor or a regular blender and just blend in batches.  (that is why  bought a handheld blender, because I didn’t want to add to my dirty dishes.  I can puree soups and sauces right in the pot) This is the one I have and LOVE!!

Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-75BC 200 Watt 2 Speed Hand Blender (Brushed Chrome)

You can serve it hot or bottle it and chill it in the fridge.

For a dessert, we put a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in the hot applesauce. It was delicious.

This is such a perfect way to use up those apples (even those bruised ones)!

‘Til next time

Amanda

Don’t have a Crockpot?? Or are you needing a new or bigger one? This has become my favorite one! It has the programmer/timer and it has the latches for the lid that it is perfect for transporting your slow cooker to a party or whatever.

 Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker With Temperature Probe, 6-Quart (33967A)

Check out other ways to use other home grown veggies:

Slow Cooker–Fresh Garden- Tomato  Pasta Sauce

Slow Cooker–Fresh off the Cob Corn Chowder