We went to our favorite apple-picking farm and while they weren’t ready for U-Pick, they had many of their early varieties picked and bagged for sale. We purchased a bag of the Ruby Reds and the Zestars. Both great apples, but we plan on going back to pick some Macs within the next couple of weeks. Evidently the apples are a little later this year due to the lack of rain.
As many of you know, we have a new addition to our family, a granddaughter, and we are making some fresh, organic applesauce for her parents to try. I am sharing the recipe for this and a couple of our other favorite apple recipes.
Apples are an ideal first fruit before they’re sweet and easy to mix with a variety of baby cereals. Eight apples of any variety except Granny Smith, which is too sour. You can easily double or triple this recipe and freeze some for later. This recipe yields about 2 1/ 2 cups.
Wash the apples with a mixture of three parts water and one part white vinegar to remove bacteria. For infants, peel and core the apples. The peel can be left on for toddlers. Cut the apples into quarters. Put the apples in a large pot with 1-inch of water. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the apples are tender but not mushy. The temptation is always to let the apples cook until they are of applesauce consistency, but you will end up with a watery mess that is drained of flavor.
Uncover and let the apples cool slightly in the pot. In batches, puree the apples and a few tablespoons of the cooking water in a blender or food processor to a consistency appropriate for your child. Pour the applesauce into storage containers or ice cube trays. Let cool completely before refrigerating or freezing. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
I put mine in small jars and processed in a hot water bath for 15 mins. I have a pan of the next recipe in the oven as we speak and I hope the girls at work will enjoy them!
Apple Brownies
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup white sugar (I used 1/ 2 cup white and 1/ 2 cup brown sugars)
1 egg
3 medium apples – peeled, cored and rough dice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter, sugar, and egg until fluffy. Fold in the apples and walnuts. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture until just blended. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared baking dish.
Bake 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Keep writing, have a great week, and we’ll talk more next time. Please contact me at susieqcooking@ainop.com or c/o Pioneer Times, P.O. Box 456, Houlton, Maine 04730.
