Homemade Applesauce

I was starving for a good breakfast, so I tossed onions, potatoes, green pepper and zucchini in a pan to cook for
another omelet.  

While the veggies softened, I cut up nine pounds of organic red delicious apples.  I simply core them, and quarter them, and heat with a bit of water.  I then run it through my sauce maker and put it back on the stove to thicken. I do not add anything to my applesauce.  The kids typically sprinkle organic cinnamon on it when they eat it anyway.

I got 6 pints of canned applesauce.    But it wasn't easy.

URRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHH!  May I vent for a moment?

The brand new burner I replaced gave out on me.  It was heating, but not all the way to "high."  I had just put all the jars back in the canner and I noticed nothing was happening for an overly long time period.  I switched it to the back burner, and prayed.  After a few minutes I leaned over to see if the burner was getting red.  Yep.  Only I saw flames.  Something in the burner pan was on fire.  No biggy I thought.  I pulled the canner off, and looked.  Whatever it was, it appeared to be something spilled that went down under the burner pan.  I sprinkled a bit of baking soda to dowse the flames, and put the canner pot back on.  I prayed again.  Was this really happening?  I cannot afford a new stove.  I cannot.  My winter prep list is stressing me out, and now THIS?!

I'll need to make applesauce a few more times before the snow arrives, but if the back burner gives out, I am in trouble.

Why make applesauce myself?  It eliminates chemicals, saves us money, and it's very versatile.   I use it for baking (waffles, pancakes, muffins, breads, cookies), in place of oil in many recipes, on meat dishes, for a side for breakfast, lunch or dinner, snacking, topping for gingerbread and other baked goodies, and even for applesauce and peanut butter sandwiches.  Organic applesauce here, costs about $4 for about a pint size jar.  I can buy three pounds of organic apples and get two pints. 

As a kid my Grandma on the Dad's side, would bring us a bushel basket of apples from her tree.  I was taught how to make applesauce using a metal strainer and pressing the apples through it by hand.  

Yesterday, I cut more spearmint to dry for winter teas, and took down my dried rosemary to put in a jar. 

The "garlic guy" was not at the last Farmer's Market. I am told many people had a bad garlic year, along with apples.  I am almost out of my garlic powder, so I am on the hunt for garlic (organic of course).  I use it all winter long.  Now I could go to the store and buy some, but what's the fun in that? Right?

Today I am Thankful for:
~ getting text messages from both my older soldier kids
~ for the perfect weather to work in the garden
~ for our garden bounty, what a blessing it is this year
~ God's Guidance
~ for having enough pint jars on hand to can the applesauce
~ for my sauce maker
~ the back burner that still works on the stove
~ windows
~ flowers all around us
~ the front porch