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We are going to use applesauce in the recipes for today. If you are a “seasoned” cook, you know about how to make applesauce. However, if you’ve never made applesauce or worked with apples in your cooking, perhaps I can help you with how to make this easy-to-make dessert.

From the time we are babies, applesauce is one of the first solid foods we eat. If I remember correctly, it was rice cereal and smooth applesauce that filled those little tummies and helped to get our babies on a good eating schedule. I made the sauce, which all five of them thoroughly enjoyed, and I do believe, it was one of the healthiest foods we could give them.

Applesauce is a wonderful, refreshing food to eat any time of the day. It’s great served as a sauce or dolloped on top of pancakes or waffles, with a sprinkling of cinnamon, or used as a topping on ice cream or folded into a dish of vanilla yogurt. It’s just plain good!

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For those who have never made applesauce, this is one way to do it.

OLD FASHIONED

APPLESAUCE

Wash, peel, quarter and core apples to make 1 qt. (4 cups). Put in 2 qt. saucepan; add water to measure about 1/2-inch deep in pan. Heat, covered until it comes a boil. Lower heat and simmer 15-20 minutes or until apples are tender. Sweeten to taste (about 1/4 c. sugar to four apples) and bring to a boil again.

Remove from heat and blend in blender, food processor or strain through a strainer or colander. Add a couple dashes of cinnamon if you wish.

If you prefer, chunky applesauce to smooth, don’t put the apples mixture in a blender or through a strainer; leave as is.

2-1/2 to 3 lbs. (8 medium) apples makes 1 qt. sauce.

NOTE: This sauce is especially good made with Greenings, Wealthies, Jonathans, Beacons or Winesaps.

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Make an oven supper tonight or soon with this delicious ham recipe, baked potatoes, a green bean casserole and perhaps some warm french bread.

APPLESAUCE HAM LOAF

2 lbs. ground ham

1/2 lb. ground pork (not pork sausage)

1 c. soft bread crumbs

1 egg

1/4 c. milk

1 c. unsweetened applesauce

1 T. vinegar

1/8 t. black pepper

1/4 c. packed brown sugar

2 T. melted butter

dash of cloves (optional)

In large bowl, combine all ingredients, except sugar, butter and cloves; mixing well.

Shape into loaf (like a small loaf of bread) and put into greased 9x5 baking pan. Combine last three ingredients and spread over top of ham loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes. Serves 6.

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Here is another version of chunky applesauce and a lowfat, low cholesterol recipe to go with it.

CHUNKY CRANBERRY APPLESAUCE

6 small (about 1-1/2 lbs.) McIntosh or Winesap (or other cooking apples) peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch chunks

1/2 c. apple juice

1/2 fresh or frozen cranberries

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 t. ground cinnamon (optional)

In 3 qt. saucepan, heat all ingredients over high heat to boiling. Lower heat, simmer, uncovered 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until apples are very tender.

Serve warm or cover and refrigerate for 2 hours and serve chilled. Makes 3 cups or six 1/2 cup servings.

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APPLESAUCE-YOGURT

PARFAITS

2 - 8 oz. containers low-fat vanilla yogurt

1 recipe chunky cranberry applesauce, chilled

About 15 minutes before serving, spoon one container of yogurt into five 8 oz. parfait glasses or goblets. Then, spoon about 1/3 c. applesauce over yogurt in each glass. Repeat with rest of yogurt and applesauce. Makes 4-5 servings.

NOTE: I sprinkle a teaspoon of chopped nuts, granola cereal or coarsely crushed vanilla wafer crumbs on top for a crunchy garnish.

Also, hang a fresh apple wedge over the rim of the glass with a sprig of fresh mint alongside––pretty!

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This cake is really full of apples. It’s moist and low in cholesterol and fat.

APPLE/APPLESAUCE

CRUMB CAKE

Cake

1-1/2 c. plus 3 T. flour (recipe calls for unbleached flour), divided

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

1/4 c. light corn syrup

3 T. margarine (not spread), melted

1-1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

4 medium McIntosh or Rome Beauty apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Topping

1/4 c. sugar

1 t. cinnamon

2 T. margarine

In large bowl, combine 1-1/2 c. flour, baking powder, baking soda; mix well. Add rest of ingredients (except sliced apples) mixing just until moistened.

Spread into 9x13 baking pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Layer apple slices over the top. Combine 3 T. flour with topping ingredients, cutting in margarine to form crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over apples. Bake at 350 degrees, 35-38 minutes or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean. Serves 12-15.

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Thought for the day: They say “an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” when comparing sons and daughters to their parents, in some situations. I bet you can think of an instance where this is true, right?

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