applesauce and apple pie filling

here's something else i don't need to buy for a while -- applesauce! i have started using applesauce to replace oil in some of my baking recipes. my wonderful parents have a golden delicious apple tree and a red delicious apple tree and were more than happy to share their abundance. nothing beats free apples when you want to make applesauce, and i didn't even need to add any sugar the apples were so sweet. i use the guidelines on this website PYO canning for making the applesauce. if you want to can anything, check out that site!

it is recommended to use two different types of apples for the best flavor.

to make the pie filling, i first peeled the apples and then used my handy apple corer slicer. the apple slices were still too big, so i cut them in half. then, simmer 4 cups of apple cider with 2 cups of sugar. simmer the cider and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. then add all your apple slices and simmer for 3-5 minutes. add the apples to sterilized jars, then fill with the cider/sugar syrup, but leave a 1/2 inch head space. add the lids and process according to the directions for your altitude.

learnin' to jam part II

using more of my father-in-law's nectarines, i decided to attempt more jam. i made two batches: nectarine-blueberry, and low sugar nectarine-pomegranate. i decided i LOVE the no/low sugar pectin. the jam sets up so well and it is nice and tart because you can control the amount of sugar you use. i just followed the recipes that came with the pectin and added the amounts of fruit and sugar i wanted. for the nectarine-pomegranate jam, i added a handful of pomegranate seeds to the jar just before filling and stirred the jam and seeds together. then i proceeded with the water bath canning. i am seriously never buying jam again, (well, unless it is raspberry jam, because raspberries are expensive!)

learnin' to jam

this is my first attempt making jam. these beautiful nectarines came from my father-in-law's orchard. i searched the internet to learn how to make nectarine jam and found this one that doesn't call for pectin and uses a lot less sugar than most recipes. i added 1/4 teaspoons each of cinnamon and ginger, and about a tablespoon of vanilla extract. yum!

nectarines don't break down as much as other types of fruit, even after boiling for 30 minutes. so they need to be finely diced. no need to peel them, though.

i probably should have used a bigger pot for this batch. let's just say my stove and counters were covered in sticky jam splatters.

ten nectarines gave me three pints. i'm still waiting for them to set up so the jam is more like chunky syrup right now. but it tastes great and would be awesome on pancakes or waffles. maybe i'll use a pectin recipe next.

you say tomato...i say salsa!

after seeing all the beautiful tomatoes this season, i HAD to make some salsa. this is something i've never done before, but i thought, 'how hard can it be?' after experimenting a little, i decided to use the recipe in my better homes and gardens cookbook. of course i rarely follow a recipe, i consider recipes more of a guideline, so i added some chipoltle tobasco sauce for a little smoky flavor, skipped the sugar and ground pepper, and used bell peppers instead of poblanos. i think the end result turned out pretty well for my first time, though the entire process took a lot longer than i was planning. i'm not an expert canner so i hope i don't give myself botulism or some other form of food poisoning. i did follow the canning directions, but i guess if i'm hospitalized in the next few weeks we'll know why. . . just kidding. now for some pictures!

my wonderful father-in-law got me these lovely tomatoes from a local farmer.

here's the big grand-daddy of them all. after seeing this monster, i had "attack of the killer tomatoes" stuck in my head. (don't ask me how i remember that show, i've never watched it, so i have no idea!)

hayden kept calling them apples and wanted to hold, but not eat one.
my nice clean jars are ready.
i'm so excited i don't have to buy salsa for a while!