Okay, I still have a box of apples in my kitchen that need to be taken care of, which reminded me, I still need to get to this post as well. We got our apples from Tonnemaker Hill Farms in Royal City this year and let me tell you, they are delicious! I got a box of Honeycrisp and a box of Gala apples. I have to put in my two cents here to say that I love buying our fruits and veggies locally for a couple of reasons, mainly, I know where my food is coming from and I know who I am supporting. Plus it's so much more fun to get stuff farm fresh. I also bought pumpkins-which, you bet, I use in cooking-and a box of acorn squash, Caleb's favorite.
So what did I do with my apples, you ask? Most of them went right in the pot for applesauce. Many do applesauce many different ways. I like to keep mine simple, peel, core and slice the apples put 'em in the pot and let them simmer down.
I used half honey crisp and half Gala for my applesauce, and I do not add any sugar, honey or cinnamon. If I had cinnamon stick I probably would have put that in but I think it's fine either way. I don't puree it either, I mash it while it's cooking and leave it a bit chunky-it's so good right out of the pot!
I also sliced some thin and dehydrated for apple chips. The first batch I put in a bowl of water with a little lemon juice to keep the color. the second and third batches were fine without it in fact, while I was just skipping the hassle, they turned out the same as the first batch-no noticeable color difference.
I also sliced some thin and dehydrated for apple chips. The first batch I put in a bowl of water with a little lemon juice to keep the color. the second and third batches were fine without it in fact, while I was just skipping the hassle, they turned out the same as the first batch-no noticeable color difference.
I also made a delicious desert of caramel apple bread pudding which not only turned out yummy but was pretty simple to make with any bread pudding recipe. Here's what I did:
chop apples into bite size pieces -about 4 apples for a 9x13 dish
In small bowl combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 melted butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Pour sugar butter mixture over apples and stir until coated.
Combine apple mixture with bread in pan according to your favorite bread pudding recipe.
Proceed with your original recipe pouring liquid ingredients over bread and apple mixture, garnish with extra sliced apples if desired and bake as directed.
Drizzle melted caramel squares over pudding when done and enjoy!
chop apples into bite size pieces -about 4 apples for a 9x13 dish
In small bowl combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 melted butter and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Pour sugar butter mixture over apples and stir until coated.
Combine apple mixture with bread in pan according to your favorite bread pudding recipe.
Proceed with your original recipe pouring liquid ingredients over bread and apple mixture, garnish with extra sliced apples if desired and bake as directed.
Drizzle melted caramel squares over pudding when done and enjoy!
Speaking of caramel and apples...We topped off our annual harvest party at Caleb's parents with caramel apples that the kids thoroughly enjoyed. I coated the apples with caramel before hand and had candy and nuts for the kids to decorate their apples with to take home. It took away the mess of kids dipping their own apples (not to mention any oops, burn factor) and the caramel was sticky enough for the candy and nuts to adhere to. The kids loved it and the mamma's too! I think I had more fun watching my boys eat their apples then I did making them.
With Thanksgiving aproaching 8 days from now I think I'll make a couple of fresh apple pies with the rest of the honey crisps and maybe dehydrate the rest. No matter what it's a win for everyone!
Till next time!
Till next time!
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