Home Made Apple Sauce
What's Up?
Applesauce is fun and easy to make and is very nutritious. Making it yourself eliminates any additives and can be very cost effective. Depending on the type of apples you use, you may not even have to use sugar. Apples are naturally sweet.
Idea
Make your own applesauce. It is fun for the whole family to make together and very nutritious.
How Does It Help?
Provides a natural, healthy snack. Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free. They are a great source of fiber (5 gm. per medium apple), and a medium apple has only 80 calories. If you substitute a few sweet apples for several tart apples, it might be naturally sweet enough that you do not have to add sugar.
Weights/Measures
1 Pound of Fresh Apples = 3-4 medium, 3 cups slices, 1 1/2 cup sauce. A bushel of apples weighs about 42 pounds. 4 pecks of apples = 1 bushel of apples.
Supplies Needed
Apples, Bowl, Corer/Slicer, Knife, Food Mill or Strainer Press, Wax Paper, Stove or Microwave
Parent(s)
Your child might need help or supervision for this project. For this particular recipe, some great steps for the kids to do, depending on their age and skill level, are to cut the apples by using the apple corer, and mill the apples once they are soft from cooking.
Safety Tips
Permission
Please get your parent(s) permission prior to starting this project.
Microwave/Stove
Please be careful when using the microwave or stove, as these items will be hot.
Apple Selection Tips
Apples vary according to region. Ask your local produce manager, at the grocery store, which apples in your area are good for cooking, and the time they are available. Look for firm, crisp, well-colored fruit. The color depends on the variety. Avoid any apples which have brown spots or which are shriveled or soft.
Softer apples are best for applesauce, while firmer apples are better for baking.
Suggestions For Where To Purchase
To make applesauce economically, often it is cheaper to buy apples at a local farm market, or to buy seconds. Ask your local grocer if you can purchase "second" apples or if they will give you a discount for buying in bulk. Also buy the apples when they are in season.
Some good websites to help you find local farms or markets as well as what is in season in your state are as follows:
Recipe
Makes approximately 4 cups of Applesauce
Ingredients
8 cups of sliced apples, cored, not peeled
1/2 cup of water
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of sugar (if substituting sweet apples, no sugar might be needed)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Directions
Put sliced apples and water into a microwavable bowl or onto the stove.
Microwave
If using a microwave, cover bowl with wax paper. Cook ten minutes on high. Stir, and then cook another ten minutes on high. Stir, and then cook in 2 minute intervals until apples are soft and mushy.
Stove
Cook at a low to medium heat until apples are soft and mushy. Stir frequently so apples do not stick to the bottom or burn.
Run apples through the food mill or press. The sauce will go into the bowl, and the peels will be left in the press. Add spices and sugar to taste.
Freezer Tips
Applesauce freezes well in leftover cool whip containers, plastic Chinese take out containers or other containers you might have. Also you can use freezer bags. One note, place unfrozen freezer bags on a cookie sheet till they are frozen. They will freeze flat , and will be easier to store. (Note if you put unfrozen freezer bags directly onto wire shelving, there is a strong possibility that they will freeze to the metal, and can be very difficult to get out, unless you defrost with a hair dryer. Trust me, I have made this mistake, and had to defrost that way.)
Recipe Index: Applesauce
