Thursday, January 29, 2009

Apple Butter

Leaving the peel on, core apples and chop into bite sized pieces.
Cook 3 quarts of chopped apples in a crock pot on low overnight.
In the morning put mixture in a blender and puree it.
Return apple puree to crock pot and add:

2 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Cloves
3 cups of Sugar

Simmer on low until thick and dark -1 to 8 hours depending on how you like it!

While the butter is still hot put it into CLEAN jars making sure the rim of the jar is CLEAN. Close lids tightly. Let cool at room temp. Jars should seal themselves.

The apples you use are the main flavor of the butter you end up with -this is good to consider when buying your apples. If you use an apple you like to eat raw, you will like the butter it makes! If you use a tart apple you will end up with tart butter.

You may need to adjust the sugar depending on the tartness of the apples.
When I have had really tart apples I have even added brown sugar.

Pumpkin Butter

15 oz can of pumpkin
1/2 cup Baughers Apple Cider*
1 cup Sugar
2 Tbs Maple Syrup
1/4 tsp Cloves
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in a sauce pan. Bring to a full boil. Simmer 15-20 minutes. While butter is still hot put into CLEAN canning jars keeping the jar rim CLEAN. Close lids tightly. Allow to cool at room temp and jars should seal themselves.

*Any apple cider should work but I like Baughers best -it has a less processed taste.

**I like freshly ground nutmeg best but you need 2x as much freshly ground nutmeg (Use 1/2 tsp of freshly ground nutmeg!)