Fruit Pie Filling - FAIL!

Since we had so many apples, I decided to bust out the new pressure canner and try my hand at what seemed a very simple procedure.

The pressure canning went well.  It was the recipe itself that seemed to be an epic fail.

My pie filling looks like I just poured water over the apples.  We still baked the pie, thinking it would thicken as it baked.

YAH, not so much.  There is still a pie crust in my oven that has some apples swimming in sugary water.

Basic Fruit Pie Filling

(this made 7 quart jars)

4 – 6 qts prepared fruit

2 cups clear jel

2 cups cold water

7 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

6 cups water

Mix Clear Jel and cold water until smooth.  Combine the sugar, salt and 6 cups waer and bring to a boil.  Add Clear Jel mixture and cook until thick and clear.  Add fresh fruit.  Fill jars, leaving at least 1 1/2” headspace.  Seal and pressure can 10 minutes at 5 lbs pressure.

Apple Crunch

Yes, another one from the "Home Ec" Book!

Apple Crunch

1 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

3-4 apples

1 egg

1/2 cup oleo - melted

1 tsp sugar (divided)

1 tsp cinnamon (divided)

Heat oven to 350.  Grease an 8x8 pan.  Peel and cut apples.  Place in bottom of 8x8 pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder.  Add 1 egg and mix.  Add melted oleo and mix.  Spread mixture over apples.  Sprinkle mixture with 1/2 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.

Bake at 350 for 35 - 45 minutes.

Spiced Applesauce Drops

These cookies were a big hit.  Miss Mia would have eaten them all if I would have let her!

Mom has this old cookbook - the cover is missing, many of the corners are dogeared and there are stains on pages with family favorites.  I have no clue as to the name of this cookbook; we call it the "Home Ec" cookbook as all of the recipes were submitted by home ec teachers.  When looking for a family fave, Mom mentioned she had jotted "good" beside this one.  That was all I needed to know I had to attempt it!

Spiced Applesauce Drops

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce

A Thanksgiving Recipe!

Yep, here's one we tried this year. As we ate it, I said thanks to foodnetwork.com for a yummy way to enjoy something which is usually bland, shaped like a can, and is left untouched at the end of the meal.

We'll be making this one again. I actually made it the day before and just pulled it from the refrigerator as we sat down for dinner.

Cinnamon Apple Cranberry Sauce
2 cups cranberry juice
1 6 oz bag craisins
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
1 cup sugar
2 gala apples, peeled, cored and diced
2 tsp corn starch

In medium saucepan over medium heat, bring cranberry juice, cranberries, cinnamon and sugar to a boil and let cook for 5 minutes. Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have softened and apples are tender (about 5 minutes).
Remove 8 oz of the liquid to a small bowl and whisk in the cornstarch. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture back to the cranberry mixture, stirring constantly. Cook an additional 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and pour into serving bowl. Remove cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate until thickened, about 30 minutes. Serve.

*** I might also lessen the amount of sugar. This was a very sweet tasting sauce.

Clafouti

We have a huge amount of apples . . . piles and piles of 'em. I was getting sick of the same old desserts, so I searched and found a simple recipe. When I say simple, I mean - SIMPLE! And - it's yummy! I'll be making this one again - the picture doesn't do it justice. I PROMISE! Oh - and no mixer needed!!!!

4 cups peeled and diced apples

1 1/2 cup whole milk

4 eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350. Grease 10" Deep Dish Pie Pan. Place apples on bottom of pie pan. Combine milk and eggs in blender. Add the rest of ingredients and blend for 5 seconds. Pour over apples. Bake in oven for 60 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean!