Keeping Creative Kitchens #3

I'll admit that my brain has been mush this week. :) It's been a busy, full week leaving little time for blogging. One of the biggest projects was yesterday's applesauce making.

My mom and I started around 9 a.m. and finished around 11 p.m. We had periodic help but she and I worked almost non-stop - we took a couple food breaks and I had to feed and care for the baby and kids occasionally. :) It will be worth it! I love having a stocked pantry and the beautiful rows of applesauce and apple butter are so wonderful.

We started with 4 bushels (or 8 of these big bags). They were seconds from a local orchard but really they were very nice! We paid $15 a bushel.

We've used the same tools for as long as I can remember!

The beautiful result - bowls and bowls of applesauce ready to be canned. We sweeten it with a little apple juice concentrate but no sugar.

The water bath canner held 11 - 1/2 pints, 9 - pints, or 7 - quarts.

We also made apple butter! It baked in the oven for several hours before being canned. We did use brown sugar in this delicious treat!

I love hearing the pop of the jars sealing and to see the rows of completed jars.

We used 5 or 6 different varieties of apples including Jonathans, Golden Delicious, Jonagolds, Fuji, and Winesap. The different batches were various colors based on the random mix of apples.

The final numbers:
4 bushels
35 canned quarts applesauce (2 broke during canning leaving 33)
8 frozen quarts applesauce
34 pints applesauce
34 canned 1/2 pints of apple butter


The rows of applesauce and apple butter in my pantry will be awesome! We will enjoy the fruits of our labors and I can't wait! It makes a great side dish and is one of the most requested and most prayed for items in our house...yes, the boys love it. I like that it is sugar free - making it a healthy snack.


We love having the apple butter on fresh biscuits (Andrew makes the best!). My mom's tip is to make your biscuits with half whole wheat flour - they are delicious.

BISCUITS (not my very favorite recipe but my 2nd :))
1 c. flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 Tb. baking powder
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. butter
2/3 c. milk

Combine flours, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in center and add milk. Stir until moinstened.

Tuen dough oonto a lightly floured surfacee. Quickly knead dough by gently folding and pressing dough 10-12 strokes or until nearly smooth. Lightly roll dough to 1/2-in. thinkness. Cut dough with 2 1/2 in. biscuit or any cookie cutter.

Place biscuits 1-in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-12 min. or until golden. Serve hot. Makes 10-12 biscuits

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