Saturday, February 4, 2012

TASTE | APPLE BUTTER

Hello all,

This week I have been trying to come up with ways to use 4 cases of local apples. After searching through cookbooks I happened  upon a recipe for an apple butter tart. Humm……. sounds interesting. I then researched apple butter and bingo I found a way to use our apples. The first recipe I tried is very simple but after investigating I found that maybe I should add apple cider, which we have on hand fresh and local from Tracy’s Orchard in Greencastle Pa.

Apple Butter   makes 4 pints

5 1/2 pounds apples, peeled cored & thinly sliced. Any type or combination. No rules. Adjust sugar to tartness of apples.

1 C sugar

1 C brown sugar

3 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp all spice

1/4 tsp salt

-Mix all ingredients in a deep heavy bottomed sauce pan

-Set heat on a low simmer and cook for 10 hour, stirring frequently

-Remove from heat and use a stick blender and puree apples

-Return to heat and cook on low for 2-3 more hours until desired thickness

This morning I made a second batch with 30 pounds of apples, mixed varieties, and added a half a gallon of apple cider to the recipe. It is simmering as I type, smells and looks delicious.

It tastes great on toast, waffles, oatmeal and our English muffins. Check it out on the morning fruit bar in the Canteen, will be next to our homemade jams and local honey.

Fun Apple butter facts:

- Originally cooked in a large iron, brass or copper pot

-The earliest recipe I found comes from the Kentucky Housewife 1839

-Simmered till it is so thick that a special wooden tool called a spaddle was invented to stir with

-Food historians credit folks of German descent for introducing fruit butters

-There is no butter in apple butter, it’s name comes from the smooth and buttery texture

-0 fat and cholesterol

-Also associated with the Appalachian region especially West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina

I think I have shared to much apple butter information but I must say it is worth the 10 hours cooking time. Below apple butter tart, yum.

XXOO