Apple Butter Heaven

Apple Butter.....this is one of those tasty treats that cannot be purchased at a grocery store. Yes you can actually buy it BUT it needs to be made at home to really have that heavenly taste. My grandma Mortensen always had homemade apple butter in her pantry and just the smell of it brings back happy memories.

I started out with this small amount of apples but right away I could tell I would need more. If you are going to all the work (it's really not that much work but don't tell anyone) you might as well make a BIG batch.

Apples happen to be on sale at Vons for .50/lb. If I had more jars I would have done a few batches and given them away for Christmas! As it is I think I'll end up hiding my precious few jars from even my kids.

I have this handy dandy apple peeler but I have figured out how to use it and my first poor apple was pretty much shredded to pieces. I finally figured it out and we were on a roll. It was so great to just turn the handle and see my apples magically cored and cut. If you don't have a magic apple peeler then it will take you a bit longer. OHHHH don't forget to take the little sticker thingies off your apples. They will ruin your peeler!

Throw the cores away!

This is my new best friend. (thank you Lucille!) It is an electric pressure cooker. It will cut down your cooking time by like 70%. We have cooked EVERYTHING in it this past week, chicken, pork, beans, carrots, potatoes, it is wonderful. Just make sure you add a little water, like 1/2 a cup or so to keep your food from drying out.

Apples need to be cooked until they are super soft. In this pressure cooker it took 60 minutes. I took them out and put them in my crock pot. I had to hand whisked them as I just broke my hand mixer (stripped the gears trying to beat up my potatoes during thanksgiving) and I didn't want to have to wash my kitchen aid mixer. (did I mention how lazy I am :) )

Add LOTS of brown sugar I added 3 cups. 3 Teaspoons of Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp Nutmeg and 1 tsp cloves. That's it!!! mix all together, let simmer for an hour or so. It will look a little runny but when it cools it thickens up.

Put it in your jars, bask in their beauty, pat yourself on the back and then make some toast, biscuits, OR pancakes (we'll have to wait till Steve is out of town so we can have pancakes for dinner)
I just have to add that it is a good feeling to know I can make something that my grandma made. It makes me happy. Good luck Apple Butter Making!