Applesauce

I LOVE making applesauce. It's so easy and tastes better than anything you can get at the store. The best part is it is just apples - you can add anything else that you want, but it is so nice having a versatile base.

Ingredients:

Apples. Around eight pounds, to be exact. If you get the sweeter varieties like Gala or Fuji, you don't need added sugar. I almost exclusively use Gala.

Directions:

Peel, core, and slice the apples. I like to peel the apples while watching a tv show, then use a corer/slicer to simultaneously core and slice the apples into eight slices each. The slices can be pretty chunky.

Place the apples in a six quart slow cooker. Cook on high for two hours, then stir. The apples should be soft and hot, but not mushy at this point. Turn down the temperature and cook on low for three to four hours. Stir it up, and voila! Chunky applesauce. (If you like a smoother texture, go ahead and puree it.)

For variations, I like to sprinkle some cinnamon in, or blend it with berries.

Enjoy! Perfect for tired mommies, hungry babies, and scrap happy dogs.