Homemade Applesauce

Even though most of us are at the end of apple season, I'm sharing my favorite recipe for homemade applesauce.   Because...most of us can go to the nearest grocery store and buy a great big bag of apples anytime we want.  Wow!  We have it good!  Feeling thankful right now.  I have heard stories from my Mom and my Grandpa about what my family had to eat during the great depression (like lard sandwiches and mush) so I'm guessing a big bag of (store bought) apples would have been a lavish treat.  

Since we're on the subject of food insecurity, I looked up the stats for the state of Kentucky where I live.  I found data from 2016 that shows 17% of Kentuckians are food insecure.  That's 743,310 people just in KY including over 222,000 children.  As a mother of four, it breaks my heart to think of children without enough to eat.  I did not set out to write on this topic today, but since we're here, take it as a reminder to count your blessings and if you have more than enough, share with those who do not. Most communities have opportunities available through food banks and churches to help those who need it.  Find an opportunity and bless someone.  

To make this applesauce, put all of the ingredients in a microwave safe dish and microwave for several minutes until tender enough to mash.  It really is that simple except for all of the time it takes to peel and core the apples.  There is nothing simple about peeling and coring apples when you have little ones around, but if you can find the time ...totally worth it.  

My parents have an apple tree.  We don't know what kind of apples they are, but they make really good applesauce.  My Mom came down to visit this fall and brought us a big grocery bag full of apples. Since we have an extra fridge, I stored them and made several batches of applesauce over the next two months.  I was even able to gift some to friends and freeze some for later.  Homemade applesauce makes great gifts, but if you don't process it so that it is canned you need to make sure the recipient knows to refrigerate or freeze it.  

Since I was making so much applesauce, I finally figured out that I could use the crock from my slow cooker to make triple batches.  It was the largest microwave safe dish I could find that would still fit in the microwave.  I did not use the cover since it has a metal ring around the rim, but the crock worked perfectly.  You will want to cover the applesauce with a vented lid or cover of some sort when microwaving.  We have a vented microwave cover so I used it as a lid for the crock when cooking.  A sheet of wax paper would work fine too.  Actually, if want you could just cook this in the slow cooker all day.  Wouldn't that make your house smell amazing?  Once the apples are cooked, you just mash everything together to make applesauce.  I just use a simple potato masher (pictured above).  You could use an emersion blender or hand mixer too.  

Ingredients

• 6 apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
• 3/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla (optional)

Directions
In a microwave-safe dish combine ingredients.  Cover with a vented lid
(to let steam out) or a sheet of wax paper.  Microwave on high for 10 minutes.

Using a hand blender or potato masher, blend to desired consistency.  Serve warm or chill for later use.

This is one of my favorite sides to serve with pork loin or Pork Schnitzel.  A nice pork loin with some homemade applesauce would go well as part of a festive Christmas meal.  

Yum