So, my first adventure was applesauce. Why? because I was tired of all the junk in regular applesauce -- even 'natural.' So, i thought "why not make your own...can't be too hard..." A good friend (B.H.) gave me confidence (b/c she said it was easy...) and so finally got the courage. I searched the Internet, but didn't find what I was looking for -- so I decided to combine a few ideas, and just go with it.
I peeled, cored, and sliced 10 lbs of organic red delicious apples (8.99/10 lbs @ Costco). It took a while -- but I threw some awful reality show on tv and just watched TV from the Kitchen counter. For every quart (4 cups) of apples, I tossed in 1/3 cup of water. I added more if I think it needed it...but the apples really don't need it. Now, the 10 lbs of apples didn't fit -- so I had to make two batches. So I tossed them in the crock pot and put it on high for 6 hours ... stirring every once and a while (although you don't have to... i just was excited). Most recipes called to mash them with a potato masher -- but i found a whisk was SO much easier! Once you mash the apples up, put them in a glass or pottery type bowl and let it cool all of the way down (I threw it in the fridge for a few hours). Then gather up some of the ball freezer cups (see picture, 3.00/4 at walmart). These are amazing! Make sure you leave an inch or so of room for the sauce to expand. Applesauce when made by itself (notice i used NO spices, sugars) is VERY brown. Annabeth wanted nothing to do with it, but eventually she tried it, and LOVED it...
I also tried to find a good cookie reciepe -- you know the kind, the ones that look like pepperidge farm made it, or from a deluxe bakery. And low and behold I found (and tested) this recipe: Cookies! This is the BEST recipe I have found.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
If you are in high altitude -- add 1/2 cup of flour- Be sure to follow the melting of the butter and cooling -- this helps ALOT with the process
- Cool the dough (pre - chocolate chips) in fridge for an hour or so until it hardens
- add chocolate chips (i used mini ones -- 1/2 a bag) by hand (no mixers!!) after dough has "toughed up"
- There is a specific thing she says in there about 1/4 a cup and pulling them apart -- DO IT. I did it both ways (with a spoon, and just dolloping them on the cookie sheet, and then her way) and it made ALL of the difference in the world!
- use parchment paper (wax paper is not the same thing) or cooking spray -- no non-treated pans -- you will burn them
- do not remove the cookies from the pan immediately after they have cooked -- let them completely cool on the cookie sheet -- then you can move them to a plate -- don't waste your cooling racks... that's just something else to wash.
Well, that's all I have for now....
Have a great Friday night!!
Cyndie
