This is my garden at the beginning of the season... at least part of it.. and in the background you can see a couple of my apple trees.. There is nothing like the taste of a fresh picked apple off the tree.. Sweet, crisp, juicy and yummy... My cats even like to eat them.. I have one that picks them up like a dog would a ball and runs aound with them.. I wish I had a picture now.. :)
It is now September and I think with the onset of a bit of rain, some light frost and school starting people are craving things reminiscent of fall... ciders, caramels, apple butters....
So I decided to make apple butter for the first time.. I have listened to many people speak of apple butter, how they let it cook for hours in crock pots, in the oven, with spices, grannie's recipe the whole she-bang... I have looked at recipes and decided to give it a go.....
I WAS DISAPPOINTED
I put a great array of spices like fresh groung cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and all sorts of fun stuff in my "apple butter," cooked it forever to "brown" it, only to have a big pot of baby food sitting in front of me yesterday... So, into the fridge it went, home I went from my kitchen..... and......
I ended up at the liquor store... browsing the aisles (I needed some PAMA anyway for my Van Gogh Martini..) and came upon this beautiful bottle of stuff called "Frangelico" that very prominently said 'product of ITALY!" (that means it has to be wonderful!) After picking it up and reading it, I found out it was hazelnut liqueur and my brain starting feeling so happy! I had found my solution.
So back to the kitchen this morning.. Into the pot went a few pounds of cut up apples and a couple cups of the Frangelico.. Put the lid on and let them simmer forever.. (while bringing yesterdays baby food up to temp.) Then out came the immersion blender again and this wonderful smelling brew was pureed and added to the baby food mixture....and a bit more spice and TADA! Now we have Apple Butter fit for me to sell... It has flavor and a sense of place. (Not next to Gerber...) lol...
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