Applesauce—A Family Favorite!

We have all welcomed autumn with open arms here in East Central Indiana. On my commute into work, I’ve seen many houses decked out for the season with scarecrows, pumpkins, and Halloween witches. It is so great—this is my favorite season. Recently, I saw a quote that stated, “Autumn is my favorite color.” That is certainly true for me.

Autumn is also the time to can one of my family’s favorite foods. Applesauce is a staple at my house. My seven-year-old step-daughter would eat a whole pint of it if we’d let her. Applesauce is a great item to make as it is simple, has few ingredients, and is changeable. It is a great addition to any meal.

The main part of making applesauce is putting peeled, cored, and chunked apples into a saucepot with enough water that they don’t burn. But don’t put in too much, because it will make the sauce runny. Boil the apples for about 10 minutes or until tender. Next, use a food mill or food processor to break up the chunks as much as you’d like. If you have an immersion blender, you can use that too—I do.

There are a few different styles of applesauce. This is where you can pick what type you’d like to make. You can easily change applesauce to make it the way your family likes it. Applesauce can be plain, sweet, or have a lot of cinnamon. It can be chunky or smooth. It’s all according to your family’s taste. I like to make my applesauce chunky, with a little amount of sugar, and quite a bit of cinnamon.

Applesauce is a great sign of the autumn season for my family. What are some of your favorite seasonal foods to can or just to eat?