When life gives you apples…

17-Aug-2008

My apple tree has been throwing apples at me for the last week or so. It’s not being mean but it’s branches are too crowded. I didn’t think I was going to get too many apples this year so I didn’t thin them. But there are actually quite a few so some are getting pushed off the branches to make room for the others to continue growing. Unfortunately this crowding leads to smaller apples; more of them but lots smaller. But I’m really not good about thinning them anyway. I really hate to "kill" anything that’s beat the odds and growing. Especially this year with the horrible early summer weather we had.

So, the point of all this is that I am accumulating lots of smaller windfalls. And the best thing to do with those is make applesauce. I made a small batch tonight. Applesauce is one of the easiest things to make. You just slice apples into quarters (or maybe smaller pieces if the apples are large) without bothering to peel or core them; put them in a pot with a little water and cook over medium-low to low heat until the apples are soft and a little mushy; run them through a chinoise & pestle set

or food mill

to separate the sauce from the peels; add a little sugar to suit your taste; and eat it! "Leftovers" can be kept in the refrigerator or if you make a big batch you might want to can some to have for the winter.