Our friend Rick thinks that food is the best gift one could give or receive. And this is a gift that could be given to almost anyone on your list, neighbors, teachers, family, the mailman or delivery person. We scored one day while we were at the grocery store with a free 50 lb. box of apples that were being thrown out. Yes, perfectly good apples that were going into the dumpster until we rescued them, brought them home and made them into many pints of apple butter.

Supplies for canning: a big pot, a metal rack to put in the bottom of your pot (so your glass jars do not touch the metal pot as they could crack), tongs, canning jars and lids and ingredients below

Cost: approx. $2.00/pint including jar and ingredients

Time: 1 1/2 - 2 hours

Recipe: 24+ apples, cored and sliced in quarters (I left the skins on) + 1/2 cup water + juice from 1 lemon. Simmer over medium heat in a large pot for about 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally, and then mash with a potato masher. Add 1 cup sugar (or your favorite sugar alternative), 1 tbl. cinnamon, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 1 tsp. ginger, bring to a boil, and let it boil for about 3 minutes. At this point you will have a yummy applesauce. You can stop here and can your applesauce or just eat it, or turn it into apple butter.

Puree the applesauce in a food processor. Heat it over the stove and add 2 cup of apple cider and 2 package(s) of no sugar needed fruit pectin. Cook according to pectin directions. Add 1 cup of brown sugar, and bring to a boil for 3 minutes. Can in sterilized jars (check out preserving info here), and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. This should make approx. 8 pints of butter. Enjoy.

Posted by thelivinghome in ideas |