Homemade Applesauce! And Apple Butter!

Homemade applesauce is seriously amazing! I tried it for the first time this weekend and it simply blew me away - I wasn't expecting it to taste nearly as good as it did.

A few tips

• Use a variety of apple types. I don't recall which types I used, but it was at least 4 varieties.
  
• Buy one of these apple peeler/corer/slicer - it seriously will make this recipe (and any other recipe that calls for peeling, coring, and slicing apples go way faster.
  
• I like organic apples b/c apples have one of the highest pesticide application rates of any fruit of vegetable (along with strawberries).
• You can add a variety of things to applesauce to change it around: raisins, cranberries, cloves, ginger, crystallized ginger, maple syrup, nutmeg - the list goes on an on.
• A read a blog post that suggested baking applesauce in a halved acorn squash with toasted walnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sounds delicious!
• Naturally, applesauce is delicious in oatmeal on a cold fall or winter morning!
  

Here's the applesauce recipe! It is a version adapted from The Yellow Farmhouse cookbook, which was written by the editor if Cook's Illustrated (a book I highly recommend - excellent recipes!)

3.5 lbs apples (about 9-10 apples), peeled, cored, and sliced
2 Tbsp apple cider
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 honey
1 1x3 inch piece of lemon zest
1 3 inch cinnamon stick
Pinch salt (optional)

Place the prepared apples in a nonreactive 3 or 4 quart saucepan and toss with cider, lemon juice, and honey. Stir to coat. Add the lemon zest and cinnamon stick. Cover and cook over medium until simmering. Turn down to low and simmer very gently for approximately 30 minutes or until the applies are very tender. Stir frequently.

Raise the heat slightly to medium and cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes, beating frequently with a whisk. Add a small pinch salt if desired.

And here is the apple butter recipe! (Which is also a Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook recipe)

1 recipe applesauce above (or 4 cups applesauce)
1/4 cup apple cider
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Stir the first 4 ingredients together and place in a casserole dish. Bake at 325 for 3 hours, stirring every half hour. Add the remaining ingredients, stir, and return to the oven for an additional 1. Let cool and then enjoy!