Today I started the somewhat monumental project of making applesauce for apple butter.
I hear you thinking, "How hard is it to make applesauce?" and I reply with "You have NO idea!" I need to keep my 2 year old daughter occupied and away from the stove, so that always adds to the excitement. Thankfully this was a pretty hands-off way to make sauce.
I cored and quartered (do not peel!) 16 medium to large apples and added them to a stock pot with an inch of apple cider in the bottom. The cider was made at the same apple farm that I got the apples from so I thought that was a nice touch. I cooked the apples on medium low for about an hour; stirring often. When the apples are fork tender, I removed the pot from the burner and let the apples cool for about 30 minutes.
I then ran the entire lot through a food mill - if you can get a hand crank one, great, but I used one of the old fashioned hand ones that has the wooden pestle thing. It was a bit tedious, but better than buying a hand crank one.
I did this entire process twice and have my applesauce waiting in my crock pot to be made into butter. I didn't add any spices or sugar since they will all be going in later on. I am going to be using this recipefor the apple butter and then can it all - I can't wait!