Criss-cross applesauce

I must preface this blog post with the following truth: I don't think there is ANY cost savings in this endeavor of mine. In fact, I bet I spent a smidge more on this than buying regular old organic applesauce from the store. However, getting to make it, have it taste the way I want, be of a consistency I like and hearing Annabelle say that Aunt Becca's applesauce was chunky made this completely priceless!


I began my adventure at Trader Joe's (there are TWO in Houston now, get out!) and discovered the completely inexpensive organic spread of fruits and vegetables. I get it now, people in love with TJ's...I get it.

I bought 8 Gala apples (so sweet and delicious!) and 4 Granny Smith (mmm tart!). I washed them all and got out my handy, dandy apple corer recently purchased for another adventure. After coring the apples, I peeled them and cut them into small pieces (judged entirely based upon how quickly I wanted them to cook through).

There is absolutely no way I can live now without an apple corer. Those little contraptions are fabulous!

Put all your cut apples into a dutch oven, pour about 1/4 cup of water into the pot and turn the heat up to about medium. Listen for the distinctive sound of boiling before reducing the heat to simmer and covering the pot. Now you can "set it, and forget it!"...that is, with a timer set on 30 minutes. At the halfway mark, stir the apples just once around, then close 'er up again!

Into the pot they all go!

At the 30 minute mark, you should see some fairly mushy apples in your presence. If not, keep cooking! Take a potato masher and get to work. What I like about this is that I can leave a few chunky bites of apple in my sauce rather than the completely creamed version at the grocery store. To each their own and now it's controllable!

Thankfully mashing apples takes FAR less effort than potatoes. Phrew!

Here's another great bonus to making your own applesauce at home: you can flavor it any way you want to! The recipe I used as inspiration suggested a bit of maple syrup and cinnamon. Well, I sure do love both of those things (PURE Maple Syrup, only, of course).

Num, num, num. Please ignore the obviously handwritten and not cutely done label.

Using 12 apples, I was able to make approximately 44oz. of delicious applesauce just to Becca's taste. My family liked it too, the happy recipients of my efforts!

So easy and just right!

As I said at the forefront of this post, there's no cost savings here. But getting to say you made it is reward in and of itself. Enjoy!

Writer's note: Cinnamon is really good for you! It helps you digest glucose [sugar] in your system better! ~Dr. Becca