Gram Pam’s Applesauce

I think adjusting to college is hard for everyone. Being away from home, my family, and all the comforts of home… can be a little lonely. Homesickness is quick to set in, but thankfully little bits of home help keep it at bay. To make the transition to college a little easier, and to make sure I was well-fed, Gram would freeze me dinner meals and snacks. When she would make big dinners she’d save some for me and freeze it in individual meal-size Tupperware containers. She would also make homemade applesauce and freeze batches of it for me. When I’d need a snack, or be missing home, all I had to do was pull one out, heat it up, and instantly get that warm fuzzy feeling of home, and a nice little boost of energy to finish my homework or report.

Since Gram started making me homemade applesauce, it’s always been a little special something that I like to make. It reminds me of her, is simple, and is always a delicious snack to have around. Although the weather is giving anything but fall vibes, our little apple stand at home opened and that means applesauce time.

Applesauce is best made with fresh apples, either picked from your own trees, or a local stand. Just about any apples will make delicious sauce, but there’s something special about knowing where your ingredients are from. This is one of the easiest things you’ll make all year, and if you have little ones, this would be a fun thing to make with them (and better for them!).

Ingredients:

• Fresh apples, quantity varies depending on size and how much sauce you want
• Cinnamon
• Sugar

Steps:

1. I start by using the little pairing knife Gram got me to peel all of the apples.
2. I then halve them, quarter them, and cut out the core.
3. Fill a pot about halfway with water, and drop apples in.
4. Heat the water up, bring to a low boil, and constantly check the status of the apples. As soon as they are soft and you can easily poke them with a fork, pull the pot off the heat.
5. Drain the water off, and use a potato masher to mash up the apples. I prefer chunky applesauce so I don’t mash it up too much. Mash to your preferred consistency.
6. Here is where it gets optional – I add in a couple dashes of cinnamon and sugar to taste. I don’t like mine super sweet, so I don’t add as much sugar. But, add a little, stir it good, and continue adding until it is to your liking!
7. Once it is cooled, I put it in individual Tupperware containers, freezing some, and the rest in the fridge for a ready-to-eat snack.

Enjoy your sauce! I hope you have fun making it, and in the process create your own little memories. Mine will forever be wrapped around Gram.