In our home we tend to buy the conveniently packed foods and I am trying to get away from that. I am making much more of an effort to actually try to prepare snacks and other things from scratch lately. It tastes so much better, I know how it was made and what I am putting in my families body. I can honestly say that it feels much better to make our own of what we can. My very first attempt at trying to give my children a better snack option was to make homemade applesauce rather than picking up a container of already made applesauce in the store.
4 pounds of peeled and cored apples....Gala and Red Delicious.
I tossed them around in a little bit of water and produce protector(Balls powder) so they would not turn brown. After I got everything all set up I poured 6 cups of water in the crock pot, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and about a teaspoon of cinnamon and gave it a good stir and put the lid on the crock pot.
Total Time: 10 hours (including cooling and refrigeration time)
Let cook 6 hours on low heat
Cook 2 hours on high heat
Let Cool. Drain your juices out.
Throw it in the fridge for a couple of hours or just leave it in all night and it will be ready for the next day.
I drained as much of the liquid as I could out of the applesauce with just a small amount remaining. My kids drank the juice over the next 2 days and they said it tasted just like apple juice. I added no sugar at all and it turned out really tasty. I will never buy applesauce from the store ever again. :)
The apples turned out so great and cooked so nicely in the crock pot.... the apples could be drained even more and be a great addition to other recipes.
Homemade apple turnovers
Apple cinnamon oatmeal
Apple pie
Apple biscuits
Apple compote for french toast or pancakes
Apple sauce for ice cream and much more......
Do you make your own applesauce?