Homemade Applesauce

[at828]

We just went apple picking and picked a ton of yummy Empire Apples. My mom wants to make applesauce with them, and was asking my opinion if she has to peel them first. The skin doesn't seem particularly tough to me, so I'm thinking it would be okay, but I'm curious to hear other's opinions.

[sneezles]

Leaving the skin on will impart some color to the applesauce so if you want "white" applesauce then I'd peel them but if pink is ok then don't peel.

[Kahlico]

I always peeled mine apples first, but peeling apples is a task I enjoy.
Peel for a smoother sauce. If your mom wants a rosier applesauce or if she doesn't want to bother with peeling the apples first, make the sauce with the peels and strain the sauce through a foodmill or sieve (a seive will make for an ultra-smooth sauce).

[slknight]

I leave the skin on and then just grind it through a food mill after the apples are cooked so the skin gets left behind.

[tperes]

I leave the skin on (too lazy to peel), but I like mine a little on the chunky side. Besides, don't the skins give it more fiber?

[skupe123]

I always leave the skins on, add a kiwi, a pear or two and fold in some strawberries at the end, Freshly grated nutmeg and cinnamon are a must.

Suz

[Kahlico]

I always leave the skins on, add a kiwi, a pear or two and fold in some strawberries at the end, Freshly grated nutmeg and cinnamon are a must.

Suz

I like to add a few scrapings of a fresh vanilla bean to mine and I'll throw in a cinnamon stick or two while it's simmering.

:D
~emilie~

[sherri]

My DH and I also went apple picking this weekend and he has requested applesauce :)
Has anyone tried any of the CL applesauce recipes? Any favorites? I saw one called for apple cider, is that an unusual ingredient in applesauce (obviously I am clueless).
Thanks!
Sherri

[Kahlico]

My DH and I also went apple picking this weekend and he has requested applesauce :)
Has anyone tried any of the CL applesauce recipes? Any favorites? I saw one called for apple cider, is that an unusual ingredient in applesauce (obviously I am clueless).
Thanks!
Sherri

I haven't seen the recipe but I'm assuming they replace some or all of the water you'd normally boil the apples with the cider. It sounds good. I normally just boil apples in water with some sugar or honey, scrapings from a vanilla bean, a cinnamon stick and sometimes some cinnamon. If you can afford, some pure maple syrup to replace some of the sugar would be good.

[stefania4]

I leave the skins on, and I like to make cranberry applesauce - cranberries, apples, apple cider, cinnamon, sugar. YUM.

[auntoozie]

I made applesauce on Sunday and it is delicious. I sliced 5 Rome apples with the skin on and added 1/4 cup cinnamon red hots (candy) with about 1/2 cup water. I cooked it until the apples were soft. It is light pink and chunky, just the way I like it.

[cookinginItaly]

I love applesauce!!
I peel the apples, boil the with water, demarara sugar and cinnamon mmmm

[etawalker]

I peel and core, so I can throw the whole mess in my blender and be done with it. I follow a pretty simple recipe--apples, water, a little sugar--because I like adding cinnamon and sugar before serving. That's the way Mom did it, and that's the way I do it, just because I like traditions. :)

[Curleytop]

I use my pressure cooker! Wash apples, cut into pieces, leave on the peel
and the seeds. Add a little water, pressure cook 1 minute, let the pressure go down by itself, not under the cold water.
Put into food mill and process. You will get all the good of the skins etc, and you then trash, the skins etc.
Add sugar to taste (while hot) add a little brown sugar as well, and cinnamon.
Been doing this for over 50 years. Used my old food mill which I bought to make coarser baby food for my younger son. The food mill wore out last year and I replaced it!
The new food mill has 3 different plates, got it at Bed,Bath & Beyond.

Just bought 3 #s of green apples for $1.00 and I made applesauce!

[sherri]

Tasty ideas everyone, thanks! I hopefully will make some next week.

[bobmark226]

Either this or last month's Everyday Food had an applesauce feature, with a basic recipe and three variations. It's already waiting upstate in the cookbook holder for me to do the cranberry variation on arrival, although, as always, I'm tempted to default to Rosie One's Mulled Cider Compote. (I bet it's been at least three weeks since I mentioned it!)

Bob