Walk into a house with this on the stove
and you will be transformed!
All of the stress of the day melts away with the smell of apples, cardamom, and cinnamon filling your home! It’s true warm, cozy feelings take over. I was a kinder, gentler person while this was on the stove! Admittedly, my husband was a bit disappointment when he walked in, he thought I was making some giant streusel covered, buttery, apple crumble thing. He was very pleased when he realized how delicious this was and how many calories he saved when he took a spoonful.
Applesauce is a true lesson in less is more. In this recipe just two ingredients (three if you use a splash of lemon juice) come together to create a sweet symphony of flavors. This reinforces the idea of whole foods and natural flavors being all we need in our everyday, balanced diets. Applesauce should be made of APPLES…not corn syrups, grape juice and refined sugars.
With the cooler weather and the holiday season approaching we all need to embrace the flavors of the season. There is loads of inspriation all around us with falling leaves, bluebird skies and crisp air. Cafes abound with the smell of apples and spices. Seems to me people even smile a bit more this time of year, no? Maybe it’s because their kids are in school!
Freshologie:
Not only are apples filled with loads of fiber and vitamin C, you get the extra benefits from the antioxidants found in the tea in this applesauce. To read more click:
Apple Varieties to suit your taste buds:
There are many different apple varieties to choose from. Each on has a distinct flavor difference. Always try to source organic.
For more info on everything apples:
Here are a few choices listed from sweeter to tart. I like my apples somewhere in the middle so I go with the Honey Crisp or Pink Lady’s. You can also add a few varieties of apples in one batch of applesauce. Experiment and have fun with it! As always, my recipes are meant to be interpreted to fit your palate and lifestyle.
Red Delicious
Golden Delicious
Jonathon
Gala
Honey Crisp
Pink Lady
Granny Smith
Remember too, an apple’s taste profile will also depend on when and where it was picked. A fresher apple might be a bit more tart than one that was picked a few weeks back and shipped from the other side of the country.
Natural Sweeteners:
Is your applesauce still not sweet enough for your tastes? You can add the following to taste. You can throw these in during cooking.
Some Great Teas:
- Republic of Tea
- Stash
- Celestial Seasonings
- Tazo
- Tulsi tea (This company is all Organic)
Chai Tea Apple Sauce
(About Eight 4 oz servings)
This is a slightly chunky applesauce. If you want to keep more fiber and vitamins leave the apple skins on and purée with a blender.
2 lbs. Apples, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
3-4 Chai Tea bags (the tea flavor will be stronger with more tea bags and a longer steep)
3/4 cup boiling water
splash of lemon juice (If you want less tang omit this)
- Steep Tea bags in boiling water for 15 minutes to 1/2 hour
- Squeeze out additional flavor from bags and remove.
- In a medium sauce pan add steeped tea, apples and lemon juice.
- Bring all to a boil, reduce to a simmer for about 1/2 hour, stir part way through.
- Take apple sauce off stove and smash with a potato masher or put through a potato ricer.
- Enjoy!
Fresh Variations:
- Do you have a favorite tea? If so you can use any tea infusion, from Earl Grey to Orange Spice. Be creative. Let your taste buds set the stage!
- Do you want to use De-Caf or Caffeinated Tea?
- Add some more Spices: while your applesauce is on the stove toss in a Cinnamon Stick or some others. Nutmeg, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Ginger are great. How about a few twists of Black Pepper?
- After mashing throw in a handful of Golden or regular Sun Dried Raisins or Currants. I tossed in a handful of Pomegranate Seeds. They added a nice pop and look like little gems.
- Top with some Toasted Nuts or Sunflower Seeds.
- Beware: You will never want store bought applesauce again after creating your own!!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
love the idea of adding tea!
another idea — try leaving on the skin, cooking at a super low temp (if at all), and then pureeing at the end. you’ll get more antioxidant bang for your buck, as most of the antioxidants in apples (including vitamin C) are in the peel!
happy eating!
Wow, what a creative idea! Chai-flavored applesauce is a really surprising combination, but it makes sense if you think about it.
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