Sorry there was no how-to tip yesterday.  I was busy all weekend and didn’t have time to put anything together.  Let me know if there is anything you are looking for help with!

Labor Day weekend we went apple picking as a family.  We went to a local orchard and got to hang out with the barnyard animals (the kids loved when the Donkey hee-hawed), ate Maple creemees and homemade apple cinnamon and sugar donuts, went on a hay ride, played on the playgrounds and of course, picked apples!

 

We got home and put the two younger kiddos down for a nap and then Cass and I set to work making applesauce.

 

If you don’t have an apple sauce maker, go out and get one!  They are pretty inexpensive and the kids have lots of fun helping.  We use Mac’s to make our applesauce. 
 
Here is what you need to make your own:
1/2 bushel of a sweet apple (no granny smiths!)
cinnamon (if desired)
sugar (if desired)
water
 Sauce Maker and Large Pot
 
Add about a 1/2″ of water to the bottom of your large pot and cover.
Turn burner on to low heat.

 

Cut your apples into quarters.  No need to peel, core or anything (if you are using a sauce maker – if not, then yes, do those things).
Put apples into pot – fill to the top (approx 20 apples), put cover back on.
Add 1/8 cups of cinnamon to the apples
Add 1/8 cups of sugar to the apples

 

Let simmer for about 30 minutes (or until apples start to get mushy and the skin falls off – above photo the apples aren’t quite ready)
Stir every few mintues to prevent apples from burning.
Add apples to your sauce maker and use that muscle.

 

Once all the apples have been mashed, can the sauce and start again!

 

My large pot of apples made two quarts of sauce.  We used a little over 3/4’s of a 1/2 bushel of apples to make 5 1/2 jars of sauce.  I love the smell of the cooking apples and the taste of warm homemade applesauce is so yummy!  Brings me right back to my childhood.
 
Happy apple picking!