Apple butter

While on our apple picking excursion last month, I knew my ultimate goal for many of our apples was apple butter. Having never made it before, I searched online for tips and suggestions. I didn't really follow a recipe, just added some suggested spices and sugar, and cooked it for about 5 hours.

We picked mostly empire apples for the apple butter, which I loved for their sweetness.

I peeled them (mostly...) and chopped 'em up. Man, I wish I had one of those apple peeler devices. Peeling by hand took forever.

I added water to the pan and simmered them until soft.

Then used my immersion blender to blend 'em up into applesauce. You could stop there and just can or freeze your homemade applesauce, but I really wanted apple butter. I added cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, sugar and honey. Only about a half cup of each sweetener though, since all the cooking concentrates the natural sweetness of the apples. 

To go from applesauce to apple butter it needed to simmer and sputter for a few more hours.

I kept in on low heat and stirred every 15 or 20 minutes. 

It got really messy, splattering sticky goo all over my stove top, despite the splatter shield I used.

But it was worth it! After about 5 hours it got nice and thick, sweet and spreadable. I used my immersion blender once more to ensure a smooth texture, then canned it so I can keep it in the pantry for cold winter days. 

I really enjoyed the process! Next year I want to try pear butter- anyone have suggestions or recipes?

Apple picking

Yesterday the fam and I took a little day trip over the mountain to Hood River and the cute surrounding towns. It's so beautiful over there! Plus we had an absolutely gorgeous day. Clear skies, orchards everywhere you look, and Mt. Hood towering seemingly right next to us.

We visited two orchards, Kiyokawa Family Orchards, and Draper Girls Country Farm. At Kiyokawa they greeted us as we walked into the huge green barn, filled with countless varieties of apples and pears, pumpkins and other produce. Plus a cooler with fresh apple cider, and shelves of jams, spreads and preserves. We told them we were first-time apple pickers, and were given a map of the property and recommendations as to which apples to pick. We were also told to taste any apples we wanted! We loaded Ty in a red wagon and pushed Beckham in the stroller, and set out for the fields. But first we had to stop at the cute kids play area so the boys could ride the John Deere tricycles and climb in the fort.

 Once out in the orchards, we were in awe at the different varieties and the fact that we could just pluck an apple right off the tree and take a bite. We fell in love with several-- Empire, Gala, Jonagold, and especially Honeycrisp. Ty sat in the wagon finishing off each taster apple. We picked maybe 15 pounds total, and I have big plans to try my hand at homemade apple butter. We also brought home some mini white pumpkins to decorate my table, some green beans, a jar of pumpkin butter (oh, yum), and a bottle of apple cider. Loved this place! Can't wait to go back again!

At Draper Girls we had fun browsing the antiques scattered around and throughout the barn, petting the goats, and swinging on the huge swing out back. They also have a vacation rental home on the property! What a cool place that would be to stay. 

The boys had so much fun. So did hubby and I. 

I'll post once I figure out how to make this apple butter, one of my favorite things!