Easy Peasy Applesauce

Makes about 1 quart

Recipe from 100 Days Of Real Food 

Husband-Tested in Alice’s Kitchen

When it’s apple season, plan to visit an orchard and pick your own with the family.  Then on a lovely autumn day, sit outside with a cutting board and start cutting up your harvest.  No need to peel the apples for this delicious applesauce. The sauce can be made on top of the stove or in the slow cooker. (Directions for both methods are below.)  And, it can be frozen for later.  Your family will love finding this treat in their lunch boxes or on their dinner plate. 

3 pounds cooking apples, washed, cored and cut into ½ inch or 1 inch slices or chunks, unpeeled

½ cup apple juice or apple cider

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 large cinnamon stick

1 – 2 Tablespoons local honey

¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

Combine the apples, apple juice/cider, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick into a large pot**. Cover and simmer for 20 – 25 minutes or until tender (but not mushy.)  Remove the cinnamon stick.  Add the honey and the nutmeg.

**I also tested this recipe using the slow cooker.  Put all of the ingredients in a slow cooker.  Cook on high for 3 hours.  Remove the cinnamon stick.

Puree to desired chunkiness. (Use a blender, food processor or a stick blender.  You can even use a potato masher for this task.)
Serve warm or refrigerate and/or freeze.