November 30th, 2009
I can’t believe how easy it is to make applesauce! I know. I know. You seasoned applesauce-makers are probably thinking, “Dude, you’re an idiot, it’s just apples, some stuff and a little heat.” File this one under: Things I should have started doing a long, long time ago.
So, how did I finally arrive here? I tend to go overboard at the farmer’s market. Being that close to such fresh produce makes me lose all sense of scale. Suddenly huge bags of chestnuts and bunches and bunches of rhubarb are items I simply must have. Forget the fact that I haven’t ever roasted chestnuts before, nor have I baked with rhubarb. Doesn’t matter. I’m like a Black Friday shopper when it comes to the farmer’s market.
Anyway, a few weeks ago, I ended up bringing home way too many apples. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but I’m still sorta dieting, so baking an apple pie or some apple crisp was out of the question.
What was I going to do with all these apples? Applesauce for my son!
What you will need:
Ingredients
- 4 large apples (I used five smallish ones)
- 1/2 cup water
- up to 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Mom It Down!
Peel, core and chop up your apples. They can be all different sizes! You’re gonna mash the suckers later.
Add the apples, water, sugar and cinnamon to the saucepan.
Cover and cook for 20 minutes on medium heat stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat. Mash them up.
You’re done! You have fresh applesauce. Serve it straight away and treat it as a dessert, or chill it and serve it to your kid as a snack. So good!
Overcoming Obstacles
PLEASE NOTE: If there’s a great deal of water left over after they’re done stewing, pour a bit out. I emptied a bit of water. You want to leave some liquid; it will thicken up a bit later. But use your best judgement. Pouring out some of the liquid will not take away from the flavor. Trust me on that one!
If you buy one of those fancy peelers, this recipe is an absolute cinch. Like, it’s so easy, you’re going to start feeling terrible EVER buying store-bought applesauce again.
Variations
I haven’t messed with this yet. It’s really quite great on its own, however, I think I will cut way back on the sugar next time and see how it goes. It’s not super sweet, but I think the apples and cinnamon might stand on their own. Or maybe I’ll go with just a couple of tablespoons of sugar. I’m also thinking brown sugar might be something to try, but not nearly as much.
And believe me you, there will be some bourbon added to this in the future. I was worried about serving it to Emory with a bunch of booze in it, so this one has been approved for those 21-years and younger.
Please enjoy! And for those of you that have been making homemade applesauce all along: WHY DIDN’T YOU EVER TELL ME?
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November 24th, 2009
We tried to stop him but he wanted to eat his carrots on the floor next to the cat. I especially like whenever he grabs the food from underneath the other bowl and places is into Murray’s. And, yes, he does try and give Murray a new hat.
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November 24th, 2009
I’m sorry I didn’t get this up yesterday. The days have been a little nuts lately and pretty much all of my attention has been devoted to Em. Anyway! I have some more gluten-free goodies today!
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November 18th, 2009
I just spent two whole hours on the playground with my son only to realize that his shoes were on the wrong feet the entire time. I can’t even begin to tell you how distinctly terrible this makes me feel. Why didn’t he say something? Why didn’t I notice? Why didn’t he fuss about it? I feel like such an ass. I can deal with the thoughtless stuff I put myself through—like the time I wore a diaper wipe wrapper on my chest, or more recently when I wore two different earrings to a play date, WITH MY HAIR UP, and no one told me—but this is too much.
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November 17th, 2009
Emory loves to be chased. Whenever we’re out and he sees someone he knows, instead of saying hello, he shrieks and then runs in the opposite direction. It’s both adorable and weird. Nine times out of ten, the other child has no clue why this kid is running away from them. They just stand there dumbfounded. This is one of the best parts about raising a toddler. I enjoy picturing myself acting the same way toddlers do. I picture myself, a 35-year-old woman, gleefully screaming at a friend and then running away, or throwing myself on the ground after being told I can’t eat leaves. The life I’ve been living in my head has been awesome. I’m hoping Henry Selick will direct this life. I love this life.
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November 16th, 2009
Today’s Mom It Down is going to be a bit different. There are two recipes below: the first one includes the use of artificial sweeteners, which is what the original recipe called for. The second recipe is modified based on the fact that neither my husband nor I can get over the taste of the Splenda. I have tried to bake with Splenda before. I want to like it, but it always leaves a strange taste in my mouth that can linger for an hour or more. Is this something Splenda eaters get used to? Is this something everyone experiences? I do wonder.
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November 12th, 2009
This might be the single most awesome comment this blog has ever seen. Like, I think my work is done here. Blog for sale!
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November 12th, 2009
A silent reader sent me an article today that had me in tears—huge, blubbering, messy tears. It was written in 2007 and for that reason, I can’t believe I hadn’t seen it before today. I wanted to thank her for sending it along. And I’m not sure why, but I also wanted to post it here as well. (Warning: it is sad.)
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November 11th, 2009
Something you may not know about having a miscarriage is that loneliness is one of the worst side-effects. I can’t explain why this is, it just is. And it’s not a normal loneliness either. It’s not one I have ever experienced before, nor do I anticipate finding this type of loneliness within any other situation. It’s impossible to describe and when I try to, I picture words like hopelessness and darkness and other relatively empty descriptions.
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November 10th, 2009
I can’t believe I forgot it was Tuesday. I am so sorry. Someone alerted me by email asking WHERE IS MURRAY? Here’s a picture I took of him right at this very moment.
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