Those Apples Are Getting Saucy
Your life may never be the same after reading this. Just thought I’d warn you because Oh My Gosh. Our house feels like heaven.
I sort of went overboard at the farmer’s market. The organic apples were really cheap (1.99 a kilo, which is less than a buck a pound), and I managed to wedge thirty of the suckers into my bike basket between the yogurt and soy milk. I had all these visions of tasty autumn foods baking in our oven like pies and cobblers, and I was extra careful on the cobblestone streets so that I wouldn’t bruise my new treasures. Never mind that our kitchen is being remodeled and the only counter space was a built-in sink drainer. I felt the temptation of Eve.
I decided to start with something simple: apple sauce. Thirty apples and a couple of days later, that’s where we finished.
Homemade applesauce is in a league of it’s own. I can’t even tell you how amazing it tastes. Martin can’t either; he’s too busy stuffing his face. The taste reminds us of apple pie. We eat it cold. We eat it warm. Breakfast, snack, dinner. Whenever! All I know is that we still haven’t gotten to pies and cobblers. We may never get to them. Homemade applesauce is our soul food.
Once you try making your own, you might not be able to ever return to the store-bought stuff. The image of bruised and massacred apples in a store bought jar that tastes, I don’t know, a little like metallic mush versus the heaven coming from your oven? There’s just no comparison.
Plus it’s so dang easy. If you’re interested in changing your life – it’s almost a lazy man’s life changer, really – try making some of your own. I adapted a recipe in Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s absolutely fabulous cookbook imported in my suitcase from the US, Vegan with a Vengeance, to something like this:
Roasted Applesauce
3 pounds of McIntosh or other apples (That’s about 10 apples – I kind of just keep chopping apples until my dish is full to be honest)
juice of one lemon (if I have it)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
dash of cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, ginger, or whatever sounds tasty
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Mix oil, maple syrup, spices, and, if necessary, a couple tablespoons of sugar in a glass baking dish. Isa also adds allspice, which I haven’t found in Germany. But hey – it’s not a cake or anything. You can bend the rules on this one. (swoon goes my expat heart)
Peel and chop apples to 1-inch chunks, adding to mixture with squeezes of lemon juice. Mix and go lock your door. The aroma fills your house. And in our case, kind of fills the neighbors’, too. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, turning halfway through, so that apples are tender.
Mash for chunky applesauce. Pulse in a blender or food processor for smooth applesauce. Unlock door so husband can get into house.
(Image from yumsugar)
October 30th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Mmmmm this sounds delicious! I’m printing out your recipe and may try it this weekend. And boy am I jealous that you go to the market on your bike – european living at it’s best. I’m married to a Welshman, and I hope we get to live on that side of the pond someday…
October 30th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hey, I’m so glad you found me. I really like your blog! How did you find mine? I took German for 5 years. Of course I haven’t used it in forever so I am forgetting a lot of it. I would love to go to Germany sometime.
Ok, I’m going back to read more of your blog now! :)
October 30th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I never liked applesauce all that much…all I ever tried was the commercial slush type, but after seeing yours, ummmm…I think I could change my mind. ;-) Bo
October 30th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Yummy!!!
October 31st, 2008 at 5:36 am
I have never considered making homemade applesauce but after reading the recipe, my mouth is watering!
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. KV
October 31st, 2008 at 10:42 am
Hahaha! Good thing we only have 1 key to our flat right now. It’ll be easy to keep my Martin out of the kitchen. Thank you for posting the recipe!
October 31st, 2008 at 11:15 am
Looks delicious, but what sort of oil is that? Is there something else that would do? Would love to try this out.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:32 am
JanMary, I think any oil that doesn’t have a really strong flavor would work. The main purpose is to keep the apples from sticking to the pan, I think. I’ve tried several (but not olive oil!), and the sauce has been fine. Think I even left it out once, too…
Hmm it’s a good thing I’m not the one making the final measurements on our cabinets! Nothing would fit with my casual estimates. Hope you all enjoy.
And Katie, there’s some good revenge for the guy who keeps losing the keys! ;)
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 am
thank you Katie! this looks delicious!
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I found you over on Heidi Ann’s blog. This recipe sounds wonderful. I will have to try it. A co-worker just gave me some apples. Now I need to check and see if I have everything. Don’t think I have the pure Maple syrup. Or maybe I do. I gotta check the pantry. I had to laugh at the part about unlocking the door so husband can get in the house. Too funny! Happy Thanksgiving. I understand you are celebrating it today. Or was that yesterday.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Apple sauce for really looking delicious and more relishing was the way you have put the things even though i can try it in stores but a home made is something very unique and i really liked the idea, thank you very much for sharing the recipe.