Wednesday, July 28, 2010

A Simple Pleasure


Using apples that I grew to make homemade apple butter.

oatbread 
Having homemade apple butter on homemade bread. I’ve been trying out different bread recipes and this one is a very good breakfast bread.

tray
That’s been my breakfast of choice the past few mornings. Which I’ve been having outside on the screened porch. It’s really the only time we can go out there these days since the heat index makes it feel like 105!

This is my basic recipe for Crock Pot Apple Butter.
  • 5/6 lbs of apples cored and sliced
  • 4 Cups of sugar (but depends on the sweetness of the apples and how sweet you like things)
  • 2-3 Tsp. Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Tsp. Ground Cloves
  • 1/4 Tsp. Salt
Put all the apples in your crock pot. Combine all the other ingredients in a bowl and pour over the apples, stir. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour then reduce to low and cook about 8-10 hours. Stir occasionally and mash your apples with a potato masher to get a smooth consistency. Your apple butter should be dark brown and thick when done. Makes 3-4 quarts.

You can place this in hot sterilized jars and use the water bath method, but I just make one jar to use immediately and the rest I freeze. It’s supposed to keep for about 3 weeks in the fridge but honestly, it never keeps for longer than a week in my house because everyone eats it up!
apples
This basket of apples (I don't spray them - they may look splotchy but they're fine) made just enough for one jar and one that I put in the freezer and I only used about 2 cups of sugar. I don’t peel my apples because I normally use organic ones, but if you use conventionally grown apples, I would peel those (I don’t peel my apples for apple pie either but I know some people don’t care for the texture of the peel).
applebutter
Yummy! Hope you try the Crock Pot Apple Butter. I don’t know what I’d do without my crock pot!

Thanks for spending some time with me today!

56 comments:

LaurieS said...

I love apple butter and I've marked the recipe to try later when the homegrown apples at the farmers market. Hopefully I'll be able to use my own apples next year. Our tree is still young. This year we only had four apples and two have already been taken by squirrels.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Yummy! I haven't made apple butter before but may give it a try!

Vee said...

Such a beautiful tray you set. I'm glad that you find some time for your porch. I know that it'll get lots of time this fall. Thanks, too, for the crockpot recipe for apple butter. That's the only way I'm making any any time soon.

Cathy~Mille Fleur said...

You make simple look so beautiful...and yummy;)!

Enjoy!
Cathy

Susie Homemaker said...

Sounds yummy and looks even more so...love the RED!!!

Blessings,
Susie

Julie Harward said...

That looks easy and I'm sure it is super delicious too! All your images are so pretty and the bread looks great too! :D

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hi Manuela,
It's been a long time since I've made Apple Butter but now that we've moved to the farm and have a big old apple tree I'm going to make up a batch as soon as I can. I'll freeze some too so that I'll have them for pies later...and of course a fresh hot apple pie before I freeze them all..yum. I love your cross stitched table cloth and your bread basket! Have fun canning and enjoy your day....Maura :)

Julie said...

Manuela, Thanks SOOO much for sharing the recipes for your yummy looking photos... I am going to make BOTH!!! Can't wait... What kind of apples are those, golden or granny smith is what they look like in the pic...so I wasn't sure whether you use a sweeter or tart apple. And so you are saying that after you have finished cooking the butter, that you simply put some in a jar for the frig, and some in a container for the freezer?? No need to sterilize or do "canning" techniques???
That would be SO easy if so...
Thanks for sharing and giving us the tutorial and recipe...
Hugs to you...LOOKING (eyes searching!!!) for a box...
Hang on!!! :-) :-)

Darlene said...

Oh, I absolutely LOVE apple butter....YUM yours looks delicious! I have never tried to make it but it sounds easy enough.♥

Darlene said...

Oh, I absolutely LOVE apple butter....YUM yours looks delicious! I have never tried to make it but it sounds easy enough.♥

Melissa Miller said...

Manuela it does look delish! How wonderful to grow your own food. I'll try it one day.

Thanks for coming by and for the other as well. It's great to see your name added. *Smiles*

I'm about to post and announce my giveaway winner. ~Melissa :)

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Oh boy, this all looks very delicious! Such a lovely presentation, too! Manuela, thank you for sharing. I will certainly give these recipes a try. Nothing beats homemade goodies!

xo
becky

Jennifer said...

It looks so delicious, Manuela! I love apple butte and your crock pot recipe looks so easy. I have been so consumed with peaches that I haven't even thought about apples. Now I am anxious for them to be ready!

Hope you guys are keeping cool. This weather has been unreal!

ChRiS said...

love apple butter on cottage cheese yummy.......do you use a certin type apple? i may try your recipe looks eze.....and how much does this recipe make? thxs!!

june@craftyniche said...

Oh, this recipe looks yummy! We love jams/jellies here so I will file this away to try sometime. Cascadian Farms raspberry jam is delicious!! We buy organic apples so I'll leave the peel on.

GRAMS said...

Soo yummy. I am in love with your plates and flatware. I'm a nut for red. Where did you get them?

Donna said...

Yum! I love apple butter. I just might have to try your recipe. Sounds so easy!

Hugs,
Donna

Bonita said...

Perfect timing! I was looking for a crockpot apple butter recipe for the fall.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

That looks so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

Heather Feather said...

Yummy! I can't wait to make my own!

Anonymous said...

I just highlighted and saved the recipe in my recipes folder. The apple butter looks delicious and oh so easy!!

When you freeze it, about how long does it keep in the freezer? I've been curious about freezer jams lately when a neighbor brought me the most delicious jam ever, and she said it's freezer jam and easy to make. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

Happy@Home said...

This sounds like a delicious breakfast. Thanks for sharing your recipes. Your photos are just beautiful too.

Terri Steffes said...

I love the tray and the great cup!! Thanks for your visit.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love apple butter...and clear apple jelly! I can just taste it! ♥

Unknown said...

Thanks for the recipe, I just told my husband I wanted to make some.

Angie said...

Sounds and looks delicious! Love the way it is so beautifully displayed on the tray and with the vase of flowers.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

I love apple butter too Manuela and that looks like a good one! And you always make everything look so beautiful! The pics are awesome!
Cindy

Heathahlee said...

Oh, heavens! That sounds so easy and delicious! I love my crock pot, too! I will definitely have to try that recipe!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

That sounds wonderful!! I might try that this fall when I go to the apple orchard.
Hugs,
Penny

trish said...

Oh delicious! :o)
I wonder if I could do the same recipe using pears instead. We learned recently that we have a pear tree on our property and it is loaded! :o)
Have a great remainder of your week!
Sincerely ~ Tricia

dixymiss said...

Mmmm, looks so good! I'll have to file this recipe away for future use. We just planted two apple trees this spring (Fuji and Honeycrisp) and don't eXpect any fruit for another year or two. Can't wait for our first crop!

PS: Love that darling bread basket.

The Creative Bohemian said...

Manuela, That apple butter recipe is a keeper. My son would love it!

Thanks for sharing it,
Diane

Debbie said...

That presentation alone makes me want to try it. I love apple butter but have never made it myself. I am like you in that I love the peel on the apple. Around here, though, I have to peel it.

All That Glitters said...

That looks so good!!!! I love apple butter! Esp. Cracker Barrel apple butter! Yum! Now I'm hungry girl!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Thanks, Manuela! I'm looking forward to trying this when my apples are ripe!

Jenni said...

Hi Manuela~

Have I told you how much I enjoy your pictures? They are always so full of color, and these are no exception! :) I am so excited about this crock pot apple butter recipe, too! My mom made apple butter when I was growing up, but I didn't know you could make it in a crock pot! I am definitely going to try this, at least by the fall! :)

I hope you have been able to stay cool! It sounds very, very hot where you are! :)

Blessings,
Jenni

Lemon Lane Studio said...

What a beautiful post. What kind of apples produce so well in your climate? I'd love to plant a tree but I thought you needed cold climate for apples.

Paula@SweetPea said...

You have totally inspired me to make some apple butter. I'm going to stop by my favorite orchard today to get fresh apples. I got a bag of an early variety on Sunday and they are really good! I like to eat peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches for lunch during the school year.

Lallee said...

Manuela, my father-in-law LOVES apple butter. I must make this for him! Thank you for the recipe. I love that it can be cooked in the crock pot! Thank you for sharing!

Lynn said...

I made pear butter like this one year, very good and so easy in the crock pot! I need to find some home grown apples!

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Hi Manuela, I have an apple tree, too, and I posted on it today and mentioned you. Don't you just love fresh, homegrown apples for making goodies! Linda

Gumbo Lily said...

Let's eat! I'm ready to sit up to that pretty breakfast tray and chow down.

Jody

Richella Parham said...

Your apple butter sounds wonderful! And so does your bread. I just love your recipes, which brings me to a question: do you have a source for crock-pot recipes? You say that you don't know what you'd do without yours. I know that I could use mine much more than I do, but to tell the truth I don't know much about how to use it! Any recommendations?

My Cozy Cubby said...

What a fun and pretty setting! The bread looks yummy! Love homemade bread, but I've never made jellly. Might just have to try it in the crockpot!

Pamela

Simple Home said...

I've made apple sauce but not apple butter, and I love apple butter. Thanks for the crock pot recipe. It sounds wonderful my friend!
Blessings,
Marcia

Tonya Gunn said...

Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. We have three apple trees on our small homestead and don't spray either but we love to bake with them.
Warm wishes, Tonya

Lacy Corcoran said...

Looks delicious!!! Cant wait to try it.
http://thelifeofasouthernhousewife.blogspot.com/

Nancy Rosalina said...

YUMMMMY! I'm going to try making that apple butter! Thanks for recipe! Nancy

nannykim said...

I don't usually use sugar. I love your tray!! It has been very hot here in sc too!

Kathleen Grace said...

What a lovely idea, I want to try this soon! Do you strain the peels out?

Heather said...

OH MY! I need and want. Please come link this up to Fabulous Friday, I would be honored if you would. That bread looks pretty scrumptious as well.
Heather @ www.savingmoneylivinglife.com

Cindy said...

Hi Manuela,
I just happen to have a box of apples from my tree sitting on my back porch!!! I am so excited to see your recipe. I love apple butter and I think I will make this today. Thanks SO MUCH!!!
Hugs, Cindy S

Melanie@TheOldWhiteCottage said...

I love your bread basket. ;-)

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I will be trying this Manuela. I LOVE using my crock pot, especially during this hot weather, since it doesn't heat up the whole kitchen. Thank you for sharing this. laurie

Miss Janice said...

I'm happy to read the stamped-plate project and the chalkboard paint project...love them both and must do! You are such a clever girl!

Christina said...

Oh, love the apples. Natural and good for you. I wouldn't want to spray them either.

I will have to try this recipe one day. Yum.