Making Homemade Applesauce

Making applesauce at home requires very few ingredients and just a few steps. The sweet flavor of applesauce makes it a perfect companion to potato latkes, turkey, and beef. Though there are a lot of varieties, it's best to use a mixture of two or more kinds of apples. The best part is that this purée can be made and stored in the freezer for future use.

Applesauce is a good way to get important nutrients and make your meal even more healthy and tasty because apples are very nutritious. Also, it is considered as the perfect first food for babies and a good snack for toddlers.

The following are some great recipes that are easy to make and very delicious.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup apple cider
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (ground)
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg (ground)
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ lemon zest
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter (unsalted)
• 4 apples (peeled and cut into pieces)

In a large saucepan, combine the apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and zest, brown sugar, and butter. Add all the apples, and toss well to combine. Cover the pan and simmer over medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the apples are very tender. Transfer the apples to a food processor; pulse until the mixture is smooth and serve warm.

Ingredients:

• 4 apples (Ida Red, McIntosh, or a similar red-skinned variety)
• ½ cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• ½ cup sugar (can vary according to the sweetness of apples)

Instructions: Cut the apples into quarters, leaving the skin on and remove the seeds and the cores.

Put the apples in a mixing bowl and add lemon juice. Toss properly to combine. Put the apples, sugar, and water in a heavy saucepan.

Cover the pan, and let the apples simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes, or until the apples are very soft. Remove the saucepan from the heat, uncover, and let the apples cool slightly. Push the apples through a wire sieve. Pull them out, and discard the skins. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag fresh or frozen cranberries
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup cranberry apple juice cocktail
• ¼ teaspoon allspice (ground)

• ¼ teaspoon ginger (ground)
• 2 apples (peeled and cut)
• 2 teaspoon orange peel (grated)
• 1 navel orange (peeled and coarsely chopped)
• ½ cup pecan (toasted and coarsely chopped)

Instructions: Take a large saucepan and put the cranberries, sugar, cranberry apple juice cocktail, allspice, and ginger and bring it to a boil. Once it boils, stir in the apples and orange peel. Simmer for two minutes, or until all berries have popped. Pour mixture into a bowl and cool. Stir in the chopped orange and pecans before serving.

Ingredients:

• 5 apples (Gala or Golden, peeled and cut)
• Apple juice (unsweetened)
• ¼ cup cherry preserves

Instructions: Put the apple pieces and unsweetened apple juice in a large, heavy saucepan. Once it boils, cover the pan and reduce the heat to low simmer for about 15 minutes until the apples are very tender, stir occasionally.

Remove from heat and add the cherry preserves. Next, use a potato masher or fork to mash the mixture into a chunky purée and serve hot or cold.

Applesauce is very versatile and can be added to oatmeal, used to make bread, muffins, and cakes. So, go ahead and make some yourself so that you and your family can it enjoy together.