Easy Homemade Apple Butter

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Apples are in abundance, presenting the perfect opportunity to enjoy these gifts of Fall in so many ways. I love apple butter on toast, english muffins, and delicious on ham and turkey sandwiches.  

Here is an easy recipe for you to enjoy tonight, in coming weeks, and for the next year.

Yields 4 half pints

Ingredients:  12 (14 cups) cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced, 2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice.  

Place apple slices in slow cooker.  Stir in sugar, cinnamon, cloves and allspice.

Cover and cook on high heat setting for 4 hours, stir and uncover.  Continue to cook on high heat setting for 2 - 2 1/2 hours longer until apples are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.  

Cool the mixture at least 1 hour OR cover and chill overnight.

Process the mixture in a blender.  

You can process with an immersion blender instead and apple butter will be thicker using this method.

Ladle apple butter into half pint freezer containers.  Leave 1/2 inch space at the top.  Seal and label.  

Stores in refrigerator for 3 weeks or freezer for up to a year.

Do you have a favorite apple recipe?

Soup & Sandwich Tuesday - Easy supper

Last Saturday morning my family and I visited our local Farmer's Market and what a fabulous time we had.  (more about that in Friday's upcoming blog).  Apples are in peak season and there is overabundance.  I bought Granny Smith apples and made these simple grilled cheese sandwiches for an easy supper accompanied with your favorite soup.  My personal favorite with grilled cheese is tomato soup.  This sandwich makes a great panini if you have a panini maker.  If not, use a skillet.  Here is all you need -

Whole grain bread OR honey wheat bread, thinly sliced sharp cheddar cheese, thinly sliced Gruyere cheese , Granny Smith apples sliced thin, and 2-3 teaspoons butter.

Lay your slices of bread on your cutting board.  Place half the cheese on 1/2 the bread slices, top with apples and remaining cheese.  Place other slice of bread on top to complete the sandwich.  

Place the butter in your skillet and heat over medium high heat until butter is melted.  Place sandwiches in pan and cook until golden on each side for about 2-3 minutes until golden.  Transfer to a cooking board and cool for a minute before slicing and serving.  Have your soup cooking on the stove while you are assembling the sandwiches and you have quick and tasty.  How easy is that?  

Please stop in Friday for my Farmer's Market piece and have a good week.  

Apples Everywhere

As the Fall season begins to paint it's gorgeous tapestry of orange and burgundy in our trees, the apple trees are full and ready to be picked and brought to your family table to enjoy their bounty!  If you don't own an apple tree, head out with your family or friends to a local orchard for a day of apple picking!
I hosted a dinner this past weekend celebrating my mother in law's birthday and enjoyed a menu of beef stew,  mashed potatoes, fresh bread and a side of Cinnamon Apples that were delicious!  I am sharing this simple apple recipe with you to try and I guarantee it will be a hit!  You can serve it as a side or dish it up in individuals bowls and serve with vanilla ice cream on top with perhaps a drizzle of caramel!


Crockpot Cinnamon Apples (serves 6) prep time: 5 Mins. cook time: 4 hours

6 large cored, sliced and peeled apples (I used Granny Smith and left skins on)
1 cup golden raisins (optional)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons cornstarch 
2 tablespoons butter, sliced

Directions:
Put all ingredients in crockpot except butter, stir well, coating all apple slices and place slices of butter on top.  Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours, stirring halfway through.  Serve and enjoy!
It's THAT easy!

My next post I hope to bring to you a information about a couple of my favorite orchards and wineries...