Canned Apple Pie Filling

We just returned from a little get a way to Disneyland. Disneyland is wonderful, and this is my first time seeing it around Christmas time. We are still over a month away from Christmas, but they already have the place pretty decked out! I hear that on Christmas they actually make it snow there! Someday I'm going to have to see that. Of course being a lover of food I enjoyed all the things we ate there. They have some amazing corn dogs. I have a new found desire to figure out hot to make their corn dogs. They really were delicious (in the most unhealthy kind of way). Hopefully someday I can share the recipe with all of you!

Before we left for Disney land a friend and I got together and made canned apple pie filling. I absolutely love this stuff. We made the same stuff last year, and I used it all year round. I recently ran out and was so very sad. It is so nice to have it whenever I want to make an apple pie, or an apple crisp/cobbler. Really 99% of the time I make apple crisp. Oh how I love apple crisp! This recipe really isn't hard at all and you can have your own homemade pie filling to use whenever. I prefer to make a big batch, this way I have lots to last me a while.

Canned Apple Pie Filling
Yields: 7 quarts

Ingredients
4 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons salt
10 cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 drops yellow food coloring
9 pounds apples


Directions
In a large pan, mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add salt and water and mix well. Bring to a boil and cook until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and add lemon juice and food coloring.

Sterilize canning jars, lids and rings by boiling them in a large pot of water. I cheated and just put them in the dishwasher. This worked well enough for me.

Peel, core, and slice apples. Pack the sliced apples into hot canning jars, leaving a 1/2 inch head space.
Fill jars with hot syrup, and gently remove air bubbles with a knife.

Put lids on and process in a water bath canner for 20 minutes.

Recipe Source: Allrecipes

Apple Crisp

Years ago I was at a group function where dessert was served. I have always loved apple crisp so I was excited when I found out that was the dessert. I took one bite and realized that there was an amazing explosion of flavors in my mouth. I knew I had to have the recipe. The best part of this recipe is that it is so simple. When she told me how to make it I was amazed that something that tasted so great could possibly be so easy. This is my go-to recipe whenever I need to make something that is delicious but don't have a lot of prep time.

*Note: I have used the homemade cake mix for this recipe ever since I discovered the recipe for homemade cake mix and I LOVE it. You can use a box cake mix instead of the homemade version but trust me the homemade results are fantastic and you know exactly what is in it. I keep the homemade cake mix in the freezer and use it whenever I need so it is just as easy as using a box mix. If you do use a box mix just know you will need to use more butter.

Apple Crisp

1 large can apple pie filling (I used some homemade apple pie filling I canned last year)
2-3 cups homemade cake mix (you could used a box cake mix if desired)
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 tbs butter melted

Spread apple pie filling in a 9X13 pan. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over top of pie filling. Sprinkle brown sugar over cake mix.  Drizzle melted butter over brown sugar. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes. Enjoy with ice cream or whipping cream on top.

Honey Sweetened Applesauce

There is this wonderful thing in our area called Bountiful Baskets. It is a co-op organization where you get a laundry basket full of fruits and veggies for a really good price. I have just recently started buying produce from them and have loved it! The only downfall is that a laundry basket full of fruits and veggies can sometimes be a lot for me and my husband to get through. I am proud to say that we have eaten most of it without too much going bad first (if you know my husband you know this is practically a miracle). Well I had a few apples left over and am planning on getting another basket this week so I decided to make some applesauce out of it. I LOVE homemade applesauce. We grew up on the homemade kind. My mom would always bottle a bunch every year or so. I didn't really ever try the store bought kind until later on in my life and let me tell you there is no comparison! Maybe it is because I am in charge of how sweet it is, or maybe it just tastes better because it is fresh, but there is a huge difference. This was my first time trying it with honey as the sweetener and I think it turned out quite fantastic. This makes a fairly small batch so feel free to double or triple it.

Honey Sweetened Applesauce

2 lbs apples cored, peeled, and chopped
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup water or apple juice

Directions:

1. Mix apples with honey and place in saucepan. Over medium heat, bring apples to a boil. Maintaining a medium temperature will allow the apples to release their juices but if there is any concern about scorching or burning, add water or apple cider 1/4 cup at a time as needed.
2. Allow the apples to boil, stirring often, until soft, usually 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Once the apples are soft, taste for sweetness. Add additional honey and/or spices if using.
4. Boil another five minutes or so to blend the flavors. Do not overcook or the honey will begin to turn the sauce very brown and possibly scorch.
5. Remove the pot from the heat. If canning the sauce, use a hot pack method and a hot water bath. If the applesauce is to be frozen, allow the sauce to cool completely before storing in airtight containers.

Recipe Source: Adapted from Seasonal Cooking @ Suite 101

Apple Dip

I don't know about you but I seem prefer my fruits and veggies with some sort of yummy dip or sauce all over them. Really anything that gets you to eat your fruits and veggies should be completely acceptable on all diets and be counted as 0 points or 0 calories however you want to count it. The only problem with this dip is I can eat it with or without apples. Secret confession - when I eat this dip with my apples I usually have more dip than apples but who's keeping track right? I have loved this recipe since I was a little girl. If I ever need a little extra encouragement to eat more apples this always does the trick!

Ok I know there are some of you that don't like butterscotch chips. I am actually one of those people. You are just going to have to take my word for it until you make this dip that it doesn't taste like butterscotch. Just try it, you will be glad you did.

Apple Dip

1 cup butterscotch chips
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp white vinegar
2 tsp cinnamon

In a saucepan over low heat melt the butterscotch chips and sweetened condensed milk stirring frequently to prevent burning. When all the chips are completely melted remove from heat and add the salt, vinegar, and cinnamon. Serve warm with sliced apples. Stores well in the fridge, just rewarm dip in the microwave or sauce pan prior to serving.

This recipe is courtesy of my wonderful mother.