Applesauce

This is probably the easiest, most self explanatory recipe ever, and I am sure most of you have done it before.  Even better, its also very versatile.  You can change it to your liking to whatever flavors you like, and it's still done in only 20 minutes!  Sometimes I just use apples and water, sometimes I add cinnamon, sometimes I add brown sugar, and sometimes I even use apple juice as the liquid to get it going.  This is the basic recipe, and then I will give a few variations of my liking.

Apple Sauce

6-8 apples of your choosing, peeled, cored and sliced
1 c water

In a large pot, combine apples and water.  Over medium high heat, bring to a simmer.  Continue to simmer til apples are soft and water and juices are comined as one.  Blend in your blender or food processor til smooth. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks, or freeze for up to 1 year.

Variations I like:

Cran Apple Sauce

6-8 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 pkg frozen cranberries
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c water or apple juice

Same process as before--Bring to a simmer, cook until apples and cranberries are softened (usually the berries will burst), and then blend til smooth in your blender.  It's a bit more tart, but really tasty.  Storage time is the same as regular applesauce.

Apple Pear Sauce

6 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2-3 pears, peeled, cored and sliced
1 c water or apple juice

Same process, again.  This is sweeter, and has a slightly grainier texture because of the pears, but also very good.

**Note about apples:  you can use any kind of apple you like, depending on what sweetness or tartness level you prefer.  I find that the softer apples work well for applesauce because you don't have to worry about them going mushy--they're supposed to be that way.  So I would recommend golden delicious, red delicious, macintosh, or any other softer variety.  If you still like tarter apples, then you can go for granny smith, jonathans, or any other tart apple.  It really depends on your taste.

Fruit Salad

This is an easy one, and everyone kind of has their own way of doing it.  I made some of this to go with our turkey and thanksgiving fixings, to lighten the sides up a bit.  Super easy, and it was a great way to use up our fruit from our Bountiful Basket, as there was a lot of fruit this time.  Try it out and let me know what you think!

Fruit Salad

3 apples, peeled and cut into chunks
2 pears, cored and diced
2 bananas, sliced
1/2 a honeydew melon, peeled and cut into chunks
2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks
3 tangerines, peeled and sectioned
sliced honey roasted almonds (in the salad section, in a bag)
1-6 oz container vanilla yogurt

Mix everything together in a large bowl.  Refrigerate an hour before serving, and serve cold.

Cranberry Orange Relish

I love good cranberry sauce with my turkey for Thanksgiving.  I bought some cranberries to make an Apple Cranberry Pie, so I figured I would buy some extra so I could try some homemade cranberry sauce.  I looked for a good recipe, just so I could get some inspiration and an idea of where to start.  Here is what I did.

Cranberry Orange Relish

12 oz cranberries
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c water
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 orange, zested and juice

In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange zest and juice, and spices.  Bring up to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce to a simmer.

Cook for another 5 to 7 minutes.  The mixture will thicken as it cooks.  Remove from heat and pour into a bowl, then chill in refrigerator til ready to serve.

Apple Crisp

This is a fantastic winter/fall treat, and super easy.  I had 4 granny smiths left from my last basket that needed to be used, and I had gotten the fuji apples this week, so I figured it was the perfect time to make some apple crisp.  Great served warm with a bit of ice cream or whipped cream on top.  I hope you like it as much as me!  (this recipe is never really the same every time I make it, but it pretty much turns out well every time.)

Apple Crisp

6-8 small apples, (I like granny smiths, but any should do) peeled and sliced

1 c flour

1 c rolled oats

1 stick of butter

3 tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon, divided

1 tsp nutmeg, divided in half

1 tsp allspice, divided

1/2 c apple juice

whipping cream or ice cream for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine apples in a large mixing bowl with half of each spice, a tbsp of flour, and the apple juice.  Place sliced apples in the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.  Using a fork or pastry blender, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, butter, and other half of spices til crumbly.  Top apples with crumble, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.  Whip the whipping cream with a tsp of vanilla and some cinnamon sugar.  Serve crisp warm with some whipped cream or ice cream on top.

Grape Salad

Another wonderful contribution from Cathy.  I love this salad and it has been a hit at family parties and church functions.  It's very simple to make and everyone (except my husband because hates grapes) loves it!  Best when you make it a day ahead and refrigerate it, and easy to make in large quantities for parties!  Love it!

Grape Salad

4 lbs assorted seedless grapes, washed and taken off the stems (leave whole, do not cut in half)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
8 oz sour cream
1/4 c sugar
1-2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz chopped toasted pecans

In a mixer, or using hand mixer, blend together cream cheese and sour cream.  Add sugar and brown sugar, and then vanilla.  Stir in grapes in a large bowl, til well coated.  Just before serving add pecans and stir again.  Best made a few hours ahead so it can get all of that yummy flavor!

**Note** The recipe originally called for all green grapes, but we like the assorted grapes best...green, red, dark purple or black...so good.  Just make sure they are seedless grapes.