Apples are Fall-ing

So now that it is Fall and people are headed out to apple orchards and Octoberfest's all through the area, I thought I would share some recipes that are always great to use when you buy all those apples and then realize you don't just want to eat all of them by themselves.

Apple Sauce Recipe

I like my applesauce to have chunks of the apple in it as well as some of the peel, which sounds weird, I know. Yet this is how my grandmother used to make it, so if you don't like it...too bad for you. 

3 lbs (8-9) baking apples (golden delicious, macintosh, etc.)

"You need apples that are sweet - NOT something like Granny Smith's. Yeah, I know you like them (why do sweet women like sour apples???) and even if I did, they still wouldn't make good applesauce - you'd have to add a lot of sugar." - pickyourown.org
Brown sugar to taste (about 1/4 cup)

Pinch of salt

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (or to taste, we don't think there is much wrong with adding much more cinnamon, either)

2 to 3 tablespoons water, if needed

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Spray 2 shallow baking pans with cooking spray.

Cut apples in half vertically and core them. (I use a melon-baller).  Place the halves, cut side down on the baking sheets, cover with aluminum foil.

Bake apples until tender, about 30 minutes. When cool enough to handle, slide the peels off about half of the apples, or how every many you prefer.

While the apples are still warm, mash them with a fork (we leave it a little chunky), stirring in some brown sugar, a pinch of salt, ground cinnamon and water (if needed) to help scrape up any brown bits in the pan and to lighten the texture of the applesauce. (I've made this many times and have never needed to add water).

Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

Now I know most of you have your own recipes for Apple Crisp but here is one just in case you do not know how to make it. 

What You'll Need:
* Three lbs of apples
* 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
* 1/2 cup of light brown sugar (pack it tightly)
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
* 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour
* 1/3 cup of granulated sugar
* 1/3 cup of rolled oats
* 4 tablespoons of cold butter (Half a stick)
* 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans (OPTIONAL!)

How to Prepare:

The first step is to chop the apples. Remember to remove the core. In one bowl, add the apples, lemon juice, and sprinkle on some cinnamon. In the other bowl, combine the brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Now combine the bowls and mix together. Grab another bowl and mix the flour, sugar, oats, and sliced butter. Now use two forks to combine the flour mixture until it looks crumbly. (Add the chopped nuts.) Grease a 9x13 baking dish and spread the apple mixture on the bottom of the dish. Top it with the flour mixture. 

Cook for 30 - 45 minutes at 375°, or until the apples are soft and topping is browned. I know everyone tops theirs off with something different but I like to top mine off with either homemade whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream.