Thursday, October 23, 2008

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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13 comments:

Jenna said...

Wow! The picture with all the jars is impressive!

Heather said...

My mom has the EXACT same 'equipment.' I am so grateful for all those memories of applesauce, apple butter and homemade tomato sauce! :) Canning in my mind is such a lost art.

Jen said...

I remember helping my Mom make applesauce. There is nothing like homemade applesauce.

Anonymous said...

I came across your blog through another link and it is amazing. Praise God for your testimomy! Love the photo's of the applesauce today... Used to make it when our older children were younger, but now I get to start again as I too am now an Amom... Loving God, loving Family and loving life.
Love your site too...
Blessings, a sister in Christ...

Monica said...

Where did you get the apples? I have dreams still of making some applesauce- even if it's just a little.

Monica said...

Where did you get the apples? I have dreams of still making some applesauce- even if it's just a little.

Heather L. said...

What a terrific job! I do want to try apple butter someday!

Thad and Ann said...

I use the Victoria thing to do applesauce too. Love that thing! Applesauce looks yummy! :)

Unknown said...

What a terrific job the two of you have done. A project based on love.

Merrilee said...

Holy moly!! You deserve some type of canning award for the most jars canned in one day WHILE keeping your sanity!!! Your applesauce looks very yummy!!!!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful job of canning, brings many memories back to me. When I was not even old enough to reach the kitchen counter, my Mom (your Grandma J) sat me on a stool with a bent hairpin in hand, pitting cherries. My hands turned black and I loved it.
You come from a rich heritage of preserving foods. I have a picture of your Great Grandpa Rohlfing making applebutter in a copper kettle in the backyard over an open fire. He never trusted anyone other than himself to do the stirring. It was the best applebutter ever.

Love reading the blog - the boys are beautiful.
Love you all,
Aunt Jude & Uncle Franke

Katie @ Heart Gone Walking said...

I am so impressed with all your cans. Your boys are so blessed to having such a hard-working mom. Can you share your recipes for the applesauce and apple butter? I got second apples this weekend at an orchard and you've inspired me. But I didn't get four bushels. I'll start slowly. :)

Alaina said...

Sure Katie! I'll post them or send them later today (my mom has the actual copy of the apple butter!). 4 bushels was ALOT,I recommend not doing quite so many or you'll never do them again. :)