Hardcore Hobbit: Applesauce

Can I get a hurray for apple season? I love stocking up on apples and pears and just going nuts with them this time of year. This year I’m going to be canning a bunch of this applesauce for use throughout the winter. It is so tasty! Much better than the premade stuff I get at the store. My favourite applesauce use? Putting it on oatmeal on a cold morning. It makes breakfast taste like a nummy apple crumble dessert. How can you lose? I based the recipe this year off the applesauce found in LOTRO. In LOTRO applesauce contains: shire apples, honey, and cinnamon. I figured a shire apple must be like a royal gala apple, they look so alike! I’ve been told that any apple is a good apple for applesauce so use whatever you think a shire apple should be. I found a nice local honey and away I went.

• 8 apples (I used gala), peeled and quartered
• 4 tbl honey
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp allspice

1. Place the apples in your crockpot. Top with honey and spices.
2. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. (enjoy how awesome the house smells)
3. The apples will break down during cooking, you can stop there or remove half of the broken down apples, puree and stir back in for a smoother applesauce. Here is an example of the apples all broken down before the puree stage:
4. Stovetop: Place the apples and other ingredients in a large pot, cook on medium heat, covered and stirring often until the apples have completely broken down. For smoother applesauce simply blend half of the broken down apples and stir back in.

I highly recommend doing this the crockpot way. Far less fuss, happy smelling house, and somehow a tastier sauce. This makes enough to fill 3 250ml jars. That makes about 12 servings. Each serving (1/4 cup) contains 65 calories, .3 grams of fat, and 2 grams of fibre.