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.