Here’s an EASY Fall-oriented recipe for you – homemade applesauce!  Not only will you have a really tasty (and healthful) side dish or dessert…but your house will smell A-MA-ZING as well.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 5 lbs apples (about 16 medium), cored & diced (see NOTES)
• 1 c apple juice
• 1-3 cinnamon sticks
• 2-4 t whole cardamom
• 2-4 t whole cloves
• 2-4 t whole allspice

Combine all ingredients into large pot or Dutch oven. Cover & bring to boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat & simmer for 20-30min or until apples are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat & mash to desired consistency (I like mine chunky).

Serve over ice cream, with yogurt or alongside meats like pork or chicken.

If you’re into canning, this is an excellent recipe to preserve!

NOTES:

• I use a mix of different kinds of apples. Just remember that the sweeter the apples, the sweeter the applesauce. A mix of tart & sweet is quite nice.
• I never peel my apples. The peels just get mixed right in…and if you cut the pieces small enough…the peels sort of disappear. But, peeling or no peeling is entirely up to you!
• The amount of spices is very individual. Feel free to adjust amounts accordingly!