I love everything about this book. It shows a family visiting the local farmer’s market. It encourages people to find out where their food is coming from. It also shows a family spending time in the kitchen, cooking together. I can’t forget to mention that is shows a step by step progression of how to make applesauce.
Well, I was inspired. After making applesauce with my kindergartners, I brought the book home and read it with my daughter. Of course, after reading it, she asked if we could make applesauce.
The Honeycrisp apples are in the stores and markets now. They are my absolute favorites. They are a little more expensive, but well worth it!
We chopped up as many apples as we could fit in my biggest pot. We had a few Granny Smith apples, so we added those in too. Once the pot was filled to the brim, we added water. I usually add enough water so that it fills about half of the pot. I really hate it when the apples scorch and stick to the bottom, so I always make sure I have plenty of water. (The book suggests using fresh apple cider. I’ve never tried that, but it sounds yummy!)
We added about a quarter cup of sugar and a tablespoon, or so, of cinnamon. We put the lid on and simmered the apples for about a half hour. After 30 minutes, the house smelled amazing and the apples were soft and ready to be made into applesauce. I always use a food mill to make my applesauce. My grandma and mom always did it that way, so I do too. We put the cooked apples into the food mill and my daughter started smooshing the applesauce out. (Smooshing is a technical term.)
Of course, after tasting, my little one needed to add more sugar and cinnamon. That’s what a good cook does, right? She was thrilled that she made a huge bowl of applesauce that we could snack on over the next few days.
Happy apple season!
