It's Apple Butter/Pie Filling Time

This is pretty much a continuation of my last weeks Blog. 

When I went to my daughter's house in Northwest Alabama, we went to an Apple Orchard where I picked up a few pecks of fresh picked apples. I figured that I'd get enough to make some Apple Butter and some Pie Filling. My friend Gayle Back that lives in Ohio taught me how to make Apple Butter. My family and I met their family when we went up there to attend a Homeschooling Conference. We traveled from Southeast Louisiana all the way up to Ohio to listen to Jonathan Lindvall speak. Gayle was in charge of the homeschooling group up there and we got to stay with another family, Nick & Kim Kraft and we've stayed friends all these years. 

I made the apple butter first. I peeled the skins off and cut them into small chunks. 

Placed the small chunks into two slow cookers 

Added some brown sugar, cinnamon, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg and all spice. I really don't measure how much I put in each pot. I just kinda judge how much I think is needed. 

I set the slow cookers on low and periodically I would give it a stir. The apple chunks break down into tiny bits. This actually took quite a few hours. I usually take a hand wand mixer and give it a good grinding so that the apple butter comes out nice and smooth.

Then it's time to transfer the apple butter into jars. 

I take a clean wet towel and wipe any spills from the top of the jar. (I failed to take a picture of this process, so I'll use my apple pie filling pictures. :-) )

Then the lid and the screw cap gets put on. Make sure to screw on the cap nice and tight. 

This is how many jars I got from two crock pots. 

I don't pressure can these, nor do I hot water bathe them. They get shared with family members and friends so they get eaten up quite fast. 

APPLE PIE FILLING

To make my Apple Pie Filling, I peal and chop the apples just like I did for the Apple Butter. 

Instead of putting the apple chunks in a crock pot, I put them in a pot and cook it down on the stove and add

Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Apple Pie Spice and 
Ground Nutmeg

For the pie filling I stir every few minutes, mostly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom. 

When the apples look like they do in this picture then it's time to put them into jars. 

Clean around the top of the jar rim before placing the jar lid and ring on. If there is any pie filling or liquids on the jar rim the lid will not seal right. 

These are quart jars and I came out with only Two jars with the amount of pie filling I cooked. Instead of making 2 large apple pies, I'm going to make little pies, that way I'll have more to share with family and friends. 

This little doll right here is my Grand-daughter, Whitney. Every time we would pass in front of the Apple Orchard, we just had to stop and get each of the most DELICIOUS  FRESH frozen Apple slushie which was made with the apples picked from the orchard. Seriously, they were delicious. 

Well, it's time to close for now. So, until next time.....Remember that you are Loved by a Mighty God.