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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Tradition....Apple Picking With Kerry


Apple picking is my all time favorite fall activity and who better to share this annual event with than  the lovely Kerry.  Kerry is my son Steven's girlfriend. We've been enjoying each others company as well as the gorgeous apple orchards for four years now.  As usual we had a blast.
This year was a bumper crop for apples and the bushel we picked were really some of the best yet.  I decided to make crock pot apple butter.  I used my Pampered Chef Apple Peeler Corer Slicer, and made short work of roughly 6 pounds of apples.  It couldn't have been easier.  The crock pot does all the work and the aroma of it simmering all day made the whole house smell wonderful.

What a glorious pile of beauties.  I used a mixture of my favorite varieties for the apple butter.  Honey crisp, Gala, Cortland,  Macintosh, Granny Smith and Red Delicious.  You can use whatever varieties you prefer.  All are welcome.  Here's the recipe

Ingredients
6 lbs. apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 half cups sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 star anise
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Place apples in slow cooker.   Add the rest of the ingredients on top of the apples and pack them down well.
Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours. Remove star anise after 1 1/2 hours.
Reduce heat to low. Uncover and give it a stir.  Put cover back on and cook for 8 hours or until thick and dark brown, stirring occasionally..
Uncover and cook for the last hour on low.
If a smoother apple butter is desired, you may puree it in a blender or food mill. I used my immersion blender.
Place in sterile jars with lids and process for 10 minutes in a hot water bath. Makes 5 half pints.

Try it! Even if you are not into canning you can freeze it in small containers.  It was mouth watering delicious.






23 comments:

  1. Ohhhh, it looks delicious! I made it in the crockpot yesterday, too, but didn't have any apple juice to put in. Still came out yummy. Great job and nice photos, too. Susan

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  2. It looks so nice and I love those tiny jars. It looks so cute. I love your photos it looks so fallish. I bet you had such a nice day.

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  3. Oh my that looks and sounds YUMMY ! My fave apples are Granny Smiths ! I do like that apple peeler ! Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a great day !

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  4. Yum... I love apple butter. And what a useful and aesthetically pleasing apple slicer :-)

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  5. I love apple butter, first thing in the morning on toast. I have to try your recipe, it looks fantastic! Time to dust off my slow cooker!

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  6. You had to remind me I have two bushels of apples waiting to be made into apple butter, and apple sauce. LOL

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  7. What a nice looking, functional apple slicer and peeler! Your recipe looks incredible and will be a nice change from my traditional applesauce. I'm sure the house smells wonderful as all those flavors cook down! Happy cooking!

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  8. Oh how delicious, I'll bet it's great on an English muffin, and served with a piping cup of hot tea!

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  9. Wow the tiny jars are so cute and the recipe is so yummy!!
    I love apples and spices!

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  10. Sure sounds good and the apples are beautiful! I feel the urge for a pie coming on:@)

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  11. I too love apple picking and that apple butter recipe sounds like a winner. I would love to get my hands on one of those pampered chef utensils! Sounds very useful and also photographs very nicely.

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  12. I love your blog and am going to try this recipe. The jars are really cute too - I haven't seen them anywhere, I'll have to check online. Won't you consider linking up to my Blog Fest also and sharing with my readers? http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/09/farm-girl-friday-blog-fest-1.html

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  13. I love apple butter too... love your images!

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  14. Oh this looks SO delicious! I'd love for you to hop on over and share it on our Blog Hop. I tried the blue cheese dressing....heavenly!

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  15. Beautiful pictures! I love this time of year too! And you have inspired me to make a batch for our little church's Holiday Fair! We always make jams, but I only made peach jam this year, so apple butter will be a nice departure! Thanks, Susan!

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  16. Looks great! Thanks for the recipe!

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  17. Hi, a new follower catched by your recipes.

    Marina Pérez
    http://marinainblue.blogspot.com.es/

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  18. I used to have that Pampered Chef apple peeler, but it got lost somewhere along the way! Oh well, this apple butter looks good enough to make all the hand peeling worthwhile!

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  19. Love those old apple peelers!
    They sure make prepping a batch of apples, quick work!

    I have a similar crock-pot apple butter recipe.
    You are so right... the whole house smells delicious!!

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  20. Linda receta me encanta la manzana y es increíble ver una peladora antigua de manzana genial ,en olla de barro siempre va hacer mejor su cocción por sus aromas,abrazo hugs,hugs.

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  21. Looks and sounds wonderful - and you had fun making it too!
    I saw an old fashioned version of your peeler/corer at the American Museum in Bath, England a few weeks ago!
    Enjoy eating the apple butter and thanks for sharing the recipe!
    Gill xx

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  22. I too own an apple peeler such as your's. My son purchased it for me when he was just a little boy. I cherish it as well as put it to good use. I have never tried apple butter, I am sure it would be tasty on homemade bread on a cold winter's morning. Greetings, Julie.

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  23. Ooh that sounds and looks really yummy!
    Thank you for your lovely comment on my photos. X

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