Does the thought of “making applesauce” conjur images of a huge pot on the stove, a (who ones one??) Foley Food Mill, and crazy amounts of time peeling and slicing? Well…fear no more! This method is so easy you hardly have to think about it, yet will end up with a delicious sauce you’ll be wanting to make over and over again (and it makes the house smell SO good in the process!):
Just select the apples you want to use (in any quantity) then peel, core and quarter them (make it easy – no slices…just large chunks!)
Put them in a saucepan with just a bit of water or cider covering them so that they don’t scorch.
Simmer until the apples are soft, about 20 to 30 minutes, for 6 to 10 apples. During this time, you can be making the rest of your dinner!
When fork-soft you could process them in a blender or food processor or food mill. But for EASY? Just mash them with a fork or potato masher (kids love this)!
Now, the fun part…you can add to the sauce anything you’d like to (or keep it “naked”). Sugar and/or cinnamon are commonly used of course, but you can get adventurous too… try some honey, or maybe brown sugar if you’d like a bit more sweetness than the apples you’re using come with (BTW…using Gold Rush apples? Skip the sugar and spices altogether!). Spices? Try some ginger! Or nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice!
If you make too much, you can freeze the extra in freezer contatiners or bags, for that applely-goodness in late winter in spring, when good apples are hard to come by!
