APPLE RECIPE: Chunky harvest Applesauce (Side dish, apples)

Another Apple Recipe for the Month of September!!
So use up those apples!
This is another recipe that really works well with a nice blend of sweet and tart apples.
I like a firmer applesauce, but if you have younger kids, a softer apple, like a golden delicious or macintosh would be perfect.









THE RECIPE

4-5 apples, peeled, cored and chopped.(I use 2 granny smith and 3 sweet apple like crispin or golden delicious)
1/2 cup water
2 TBSP Brown Sugar
2 TBSP White Sugar

In a saucepan combine the water and sugar.  Add apples and toss to coat evenly.
Bring to a rapid boil and let boil for 2 minutes.
Reduce to medium-low heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir occasionally.

Mash to a desired consistency. I use a potato masher, as I like my applesauce chunkier.
You can use a ricer or a food mill for a finer textured applesauce.

To this add:
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground clove
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp (dash) ground nutmeg
dash of salt.

mix well and let simmer 2 more minutes.
Let rest and thicken up.
Goes great solo, with pork chops, I even used it as a filling for crepes once.

Can be canned:  6lb pressure for 10 minutes.

APPLE RECIPE: Perfect Apple Pie

This recipe has never failed me.  In fact, my father in law says I make the best apple pie he has ever tasted. Now how's THAT for a compliment and testament to this recipe??  September is the month for apples. Most orchards across the US have apple picking. When we go, I inevitably pick WAAAYYYY too many apples, so I always love apple recipes to help use up the surplus. I hate to see good apples go to waste.

For this recipe I recommend a nice variety of apples.  Firm tart apples like a granny smith, Swiss Gourmet or Mutsu, mixed with a sweet firm apple like Empire, Gala, Cortland, crispin or honey crisp. Stay away from red delicious, golden delicious or other soft apples. They will break down and get mushy.

for my pie I use 2/3 tart apple like granny smith or mutsu, and 1/3 sweet like honeycrisp and gala. You really need at least 2 types of apples for the perfect apple pie. A nice tart apple and a nice sweet apple. All sweet and it is cloying.  All tart and it gets to be overwhelming.

6 cups peeled apples, thinly sliced. (think Apple Peeling/Coring machine)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 TBSP flour

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 TBSP Lemon Juice

dash of Clove

dash of allspice (I know what you are thinking...trust me)

In a large bowl combine everything well. Toss apples to completely coat.  Apples will start to juice and it will mingle with the sugars and spices and mkae this delicious "broth".  Make sure all apples are well coated.

Spoon into a pie tin, that has been lined with a crust.

drizzle the "broth" evenly over the top of the apples.

Top with random slivers of butter over the apples.  This will melt down over the apples and mingle.

Place top crust, flute endges and make venting slits in top crust.  Brush the top of the crust with a bit of milk

Bake at 425 for 40-45 minutes until apples are tender and crust is a lovely golden brown.

Towards the last few minutes of baking, pull pie out and gently brush top crust with butter.

lightly sprinkle white sugar  and put back in oven to finish baking.

This is optional, but adds a nice little finishing touch.

I know that Allspice is used typically on meat and poultry and in soup, stew, curry and jerk seasonings, it works WONDERFULLY well with this apple pie recipe.  Just a dash or two will go a long way, but really take it to the next level.

CALLING ALL APPLE RECIPES!!!

It is about that time!!.  Apple season is upon us here in the Carolinas.  In a few weeks I will be heading up to Hendersonville and picking my yearly bushels of apples and using them for a variety of cooking and baking. I will get my HoneyCrisps, Mutsus(aka Crispin), Galas and Granny Smiths!! Then onto baking, canning and more!!

I WANT NEW RECIPES!! I am asking for my readers to submit their favorite apple recipe. I will publish every recipe sent in!  All I need is a source and background (where you first had it, or why it is a favorite etc)
You dont need to send in pictures unless you want to, I will just use standard apple stock picture)

I will personally try every apple recipe as well!!

RULES:

• each person can submit 2 recipes
• each recipe needs a source (i.e. Aunt Sally, Food Network, allrecipes.com, etc etc etc)
• a little side story about  this recipe to accompany it would be great. It makes the recipes a little more interesting, in my opinion. when did you first have this? How often do you make it? is it a family tradition? Family favorite?
• each recipe will be published and the reader will get credit. I will even link back to your blog if you like, just let me know.

these recipes will be published during the month of september.
To email me, go to my "About Me" profile section and click on it. There will be a button that says EMAIL.
whoomp, there it is.
cant wait!!!!!!!