Anyone who’s ever been apple picking knows what it’s like to have an overflow of apples. Picking them off the trees is fun and you feel one with nature. Fresh apples! That I picked myself! And the basket gets more and more full…..but out in that orchard, the basket looks small, and maybe we need just a few more……

 

Then you get home, empty the apples on the kitchen counter and realize you’ll never be able to  eat all those apples, and after all, how many pies can you bake?

 

So haul out the largest pot you’ve got, get peeling and make some applesauce/butter. You’ll be heading back to the orchard before you know it!

4 lbs apples, peeled, cored and rough chopped (Macintosh and Granny Smith are best)

 

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

 

Put all the ingredients in a large pot over a medium to low flame, cover and cook until all the apples are very soft. Taste for seasoning. If you like your apple butter sweet, add more sugar, or even substitute with honey. More cinnamon - no problem. It’s your creation, make it the way you like. Remember that the longer you cook the apples, the thicker the finished apple butter. 

 

Let the mixture cool. If you like it chunky, enjoy it now. If you prefer, put the mixture in a food processor or blender until smooth. 

Slather it on toast, have it with ice cream, freeze it or give it away. Most of all, enjoy it!