Two bits of total yumminess!!!

I’ve had a couple requests lately for two of my favorite fall/winter recipes and thought I would share them here!!  Both are very easy and can be canned to enjoy all year long.

Enjoy!!!

Apple Butter

8 cups apple sauce (any style sauce works but sweeteners are not necessary since spices, etc will be added to make the apple butter)

Put apple sauce into a crockpot (slow cooker), and cook on high all night (8ish hours).  When it has reduced to approximately 1/2 the original amount turn crockpot down to low and add:

3 cups dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon allspice

A good pinch of ground cloves

2 Tablespoon lemon juice

(All of these spices can be adjusted according to your tastes!)

When the mixture has cooked down to 1/2 the amount again…or however thick you might like it (the whole process might take up to 36 hrs in the crockpot…but oh does it smell good!) put it in jars, seal and process in steam or water bath canner for 10 minutes.

It’s a long process but is delicious and fills the whole house with wonderful fall scents!!!

This is fantastic spread thickly on toast!!!! 

Tomato Soup                                                       Yield: 12-14 pints

8 quarts of tomatoes (washed and cut into sixths)

6 medium onions - chopped

4-5 sticks of celery – chopped

Cook tomatoes, onions, and celery in a large stew pot until tender.  Run through food mill saving liquid and discarding vegetable scraps. 

To the liquid add:

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup salt

In a sauce pan melt butter (1 stick per 8 qts of liquid)

Add 1 cup of flour mixing quickly with whisk to make a smooth paste.

To paste add:

2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons parsley

Add paste mixture to tomato mixture and cook for 5 minutes after it comes to a mild boil.  (Stir often to prevent sticking)

Pour into canning jars leaving 1” head space and process in a pressure canner at 5 lbs pressure for 10 minutes. 

To serve simply reheat jars of soup and enjoy!!! 

Note:  1 bushel of tomatoes yields ~48 pints of soup

This is fantastic soup and a super easy meal…just heat it up and serve with yummy homemade toasted bread!  You will never want another can of store-bought soup again!!!

What are some of your favorite fall recipes??? 

I, for one, am very excited to try this, and this!!!

Happy fall cooking and baking!