Wednesday, October 29, 2008

There's magic happening in my kitchen

And the magic has come in the form of a new kitchen gadget. It's taken me 10 months since I received this as a gift to use it, but I wanted it for the apple season. And I'm putting it to use. Behold, the magic apple peeler-corer-slicer.


I've been using it on debate nights. It seems it's on those evenings I'm working in the kitchen with apples, cranking, cranking, CRANKING while the candidates are cranking, cranking, CRANKING.

Me and my apple peeling on debate nights
I've made applesauce, apple butter, and curried apple chutney. The applesauce and apple butter couldn't be easier...

Fill your crockpot up with the sliced apples, add 1/2 cup of water, and cook on low overnight. In the morning, you awake to the scent of an applesauce factory. Just season with cinnamon and if you need it, sugar, and then use an emersion/immersion blender to whirl that into a fine sauce. That's your applesauce. If you're continuing your journey to applebutter, throw in a few cups of sugar and some great spices of cinnamon, allspice, maybe a dash of cardamom, and continue to cook it down. This time, prop the lid up a bit to let the steam out, and after another 4 hours or so, you'll have the consistency of apple butter.

And look how beautiful apples are. I can't resist taking their picture.
Apples are beautiful

Here's a secret for you. This overnight method for the applesauce is primo perfect: it means you can make pancakes for breakfast and have them with freshly made, hot applesauce.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous! I've always wanted one of those apple peeler/corer/slicers.

TylerInCMYK said...

That is a neat toy. Hey be careful with that knife. You're poking John in the ear.

judsontwilliams said...

Awesome! Never seen one of those before. Now I want one. And an apple tree.

Manderley said...

I've really enjoyed your preserving the harvest posts...and that apple gadget really rocks!

JGH said...

OMG. My dad loves his apple corer/peeler. I'm afraid to know what he would do if he had to choose between my mom and that. Have you made apple dumplings yet?

Anonymous said...

I had one of those, but hated to clean it and sold it at a garage sale. I was kind of upset I did when I had to peel all those apples for an apple crisp the other night. Ugggh.

Syd said...

I always wondered if those things worked. I HAVE to have one now. Thanks.

Zoe said...

It makes applesauce so easy to make. We made 50 quarts of applesauce, 7 pie fillings, 12 pints of candied apple and a batch of apple leather (like fruit rollups), all thanks that the apple peeler/corer/slicer gadget.

Eileen said...

I really should start paying you for teaching me to cook. :)mettt

Eileen said...

oops....I typed the word verification in my post.....got excited when you had a knife in John's ear.

Unknown said...

Mom has a question: I would like to give jars of apple butter to friends for Christmas. I know how to make it but do I just pour it into hot sterilized jars and seal it or do I have to process it?
Hugs, Mom

Kathleen McDade said...

Apple Slinky! Hee!

Anonymous said...

I am so happy for you! Was it not just a year ago that we began canning and talked about that wonderful gadget? Don't you LOVE it???

Taylor just commented yesterday that that day of canning with you is one of her fondest memories! For that, my friend, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Anonymous said...

you are aiming your knife at McCain!!!

Anonymous said...

How do you make curried apple butter? What spices/quantities do you add? You are kind of talking me into canning more, even though I swore I was done for the season. But curried apple butter... mmm...

Lisa said...

I've been wanting to make apple butter but haven't found the time to stand over the stove. Your method oughtta take care of that. What a fabulous idea! I'm starting my apple butter tonight.
And I do love those apple corer slicer things. So great for even slices and fabulous pies. I've had mine out lately too.

dig this chick said...

I LOVE my apple dealy. It is amazing. And you just keep pointing your sharp point at that bastard. He deserves to be held accountable.

Rozanne said...

I guess I'm not the only one who thought "apple slinky" when you removed the apple from the magic machine.

I love it that your mom is asking your for cooking advice!

Cathy said...

Your apple corer is a great time saver. I can imagine how wonderful those apples in the crock pot smell while they're cooking.

I've left an award for you on my blog. I enjoy your site so very much.

Anonymous said...

I just got one of those doohickies and I've been doing pears with it...works great, I made canned pears in honey, Yum! And pear sauce of course!!
I am enjoying reading your blog and I love your aprons! I am an apron queen, just won 2 of them from the Fall Festival in the next town over for Jam and Breadbaking! YAY!
I am an innkeeper, I have a Bed & Breakfast, come on over to my blog and check it out.... www.willowpondbnb.blogspot.com

Thanks!!!!

LeLo said...

Ooh! So many comments, were to start? I'll answer questions....

Mom: Yes, to can the apple butter you process in hot water bath for 10 minutes. (I can't believe I'm the one advising my mother here.)

anonymous (who i know is jill): you, my dear, are my homestead hook up and who taught me to can. I'm so glad Taylor had fun that day: I certainly did, and yes, I love the apple gadget! And duh, of course I was poking my knife at McCain!

Renee: No apple curry butter, it was an apple curry chutney. The recipe I used for that is in the Ball Canning book, and easily "googable" with those key words. If not, e mail me and I'll send it to you!

One word of warning to all about the apple gizmo: the slinky slices it makes are great for applesauce, etc, but not good for pies. I used it for an apple pie last week and I ended up with applesauce pie. The slices are too thin to hold up to that cooking! But you can remove the corer/slicer part easily and just have it peel the apple, which is what i hate doing the most anyway.