Homemade Applesauce

The change of seasons is not just a cue for a change of wardrobe…. I like to think of a change of season as a change of flavor. With summer’s bounty behind us, it’s time for heartier, comforting meals featuring fall flavor. Using in-season fruits and vegetables is a great way to center a meal. I like to look up what’s is in season and check what’s on sale in my grocery store and then use that ingredient as a guide for my next cooking adventure. This week: Gala apples. With fall’s plentiful apple crop closely approaching, I want to share with you a delicious and easy way to enjoy homemade applesauce.

Applesauce is a wonderful way to capture the crisp, sweet flavor of fall apples. It is also a canvas for flavor; you can easily jazz up applesauce with other fruits such as cranberries, pears or plums. Simply add them while cooking the apples and continue processing. You can also experiment with different spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger. 

Rustic Homemade Applesauce

Ingredients:

4 cups peeled, chopped apples (about 3 medium apples)

3 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (typically a mix of cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and allspice)

Dash of salt

1 tablespoon fat free sour cream 

Method:          

Add first 6 ingredients to a medium saucepan. Cook, covered, over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove lid and cook an additional 10 minutes. Using a potato masher, mash to desired consistency (I like mine extra chunky!) Alternatively, if you prefer more of a pureed consistency, pulse in a blender or food processor. Stir in fat free sour cream.

The touch of sour cream at the end makes this chunky, rustic applesauce extra rich and decadent.

Enjoy warm or chilled, as a side dish or a dessert.

Makes, four ½-cup servings

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 63

Total Fat: 0.2g

Saturated Fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 0.6mg

Sodium: 62.1mg

Carbohydrates: 16.6g

Fiber: 3g

Sugars: 11.9g

Protein: 0.6g