I'm not a huge lover of apples. Even in the fall.
I like the idea of apples. And I like how they smell when they are cooking. And I like to dip them in caramel...or a cream cheese, chocolate chip, powdered sugar thing.
But to say, "I'm going to have an apple! Yum! Just want I wanted..." Um, no.
I do have two recipes for apples that are absolutely amazing. One is a crock pot apple butter that is so creamy, so rich, it is like eating autumn on a spoon. It is beyond delicious on a piece of toast or English muffin and yummy spread over a waffle.
APPLE BUTTER
about 3lbs. apples
3 cups sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. cloves
dash of salt
3/4 cup water or fresh apple cider
Fill the crock pot 3/4 full with peeled, cored, and sliced apples. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until evenly mixed. Cover and cook on low setting until the butter is of a thick, spreadable consistency. (About 6-8 hours.)
If apple butter has too much liquid, remove lid and cook on high until thickened. Stir often as butter thickens - to prevent scorching.
Here are a few of my notes regarding the apple butter:
1. It'll last a very long time in the fridge. I usually keep one jar out and freeze the rest - it freezes great!
2. You can substitute some of the sugar for honey or agave and it will be fine.
3. This recipe yields a lot of jars. My notes say it made 11 4-0z. jars.
4. I use an immersion blender to make it super smooth and velvety.
APPLESAUCE BREAD
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups applesauce
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease and flour 2 loaf pans.
Beat together eggs, sugar, and oil. Blend in applesauce, and then sour cream. Mix in flour, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon. Stir in raisins. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 80 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
I made this a few years ago and as I type this 80 minutes seems like a long time. Keep an eye and cover it with foil if you notice the top getting too dark.
Also, I made the bread using homemade applesauce and...Oh mee gawd. Heaven!!
This is probably my all-time favorite quick bread - the taste is incredible.
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