Swimming in Applesauce? Clear the pantry shelves with these...

*********************

Hello everyone, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you as well! Due to our BUMPER crop of apples this year, we spent a lot of time this past fall CANNING applesauce! We use ours served as a chutney over pork, as a base for apple pies and crisps, on waffles and pancakes, stirred into hot oatmeal with cinnamon + nutmeg, and as a substitute for oil in recipes for muffins & quick breads to CUT DOWN on FAT! So here are two of OUR family favorite recipes to use up your stockpile too:

**********************

SIMPLE APPLESAUCE PIE
(VERY old recipe!)

1 c. sweetened applesauce
(I stir in brown sugar to taste!)
1 c. whole milk
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten

Mix all ingredients. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 450 F for 15 minutes, then lower to 350 F for 35 minutes, or until custard is set. Cool, cut, enjoy!
Keep refrigerated.

***********************

OLD-FASHIONED APPLESAUCE CANDY

4 c. applesauce
2 c. sugar
2/3 c. red cinnamon candies
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 c. cold water

Add sugar, cinnamon candies and applesauce to saucepot. Cook on medium, uncovered,
for 45 minutes. Soften gelatin in the 1/4 c. cold water, and add to pan. Cook 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour into greased 8" square pan. Cool. Cut into squares, and dip each in granulated sugar. Store, covered, in a cool place for 1 day. Makes 18 pieces.

************************

AND, if you need to whip up applesauce first, try this:

CROCKPOT APPLESAUCE

Peel and cut a 1/2 peck bag full of granny smith (or similar) apples, and another 1/2 peck bag of a sweeter apple. Mix them together in a large crockpot, along with a bit of fresh lemon juice, a strip of lemon peel, and one cinnamon stick. To sweeten, you can add brown sugar and slowly bake down the apples to the consistency you like. Easy!

**********************
"Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make life so, right in the middle of it we die, lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce."
~Natalie Goldberg