One of my very favorite kitchen tools is this apple peeler.
I think we bought it with a gift certificate when we were married, or maybe we registered for it? If you bought it for us, thank you! It is great.
This handy little gadget not only means that I don't have to sit and hand peel a half bushel of apples to make sauce and pie; it means I can assign the entire job over to the boys. Truly, there was little work on my end. The boys did every bit of the peeling and slicing.
For apple sauce, I just had them fill up my big pot with apples. I'm really not sure how many apples that is, but I roughly followed the Cook's Illustrated recipe and doubled it. All that meant was adding 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup sucanat, and 6 cinnamon sticks.
I put a lid on the pot, turned it to medium high, checked periodically and stirred a bit, breaking up the apples as they softened. I'm guessing it took a half hour to get really soft.
Then, I pulled out the cinnamon sticks and smashed it with a potato masher. We've used a plunger blender in the past if you like it smooth, but be sure to count the cinnamon sticks so you are sure to get them all out. Ask me how I know. This time, the boys interrupted me while I was putting in the sticks; so, I just mashed. I figure chunky applesauce is far superior to smooth apple sauce with chunks of wood scattered throughout.
I put it in Mason jars. I didn't do the whole sterilizing thing. I planned to keep it in the fridge, but I figure sealing it in the jars will help it keep longer in the fridge, though, it doesn't usually stay around all that long anyway!
For apple pie, I must confess to resorting to a store bought crust. This is my first year, and I must admit that my local health food store carries an excellent prepared crust! Since I wouldn't have a top crust, I found this recipe to follow for making a streusel topping. It's been a hit so far this year.
Of course, it wouldn't be homemade if life didn't happen in the process. Moley has no complaints about the frozen pie crust. The little stinker even pushed the step stool over so he could steal some! Not even walking yet and already stealing food.
Can't you tell we don't feed him?
