I guess you could say
I’m on a homemade applesauce kick.
My personality tends to attach to things and run with them until I cross the finish line. Literally, I am the kind of gal who needs to keep moving. I obsess on the small details, it makes sense that I am a Virgo. These days my energy is focused on heating up fall fruits until they become a sweet, mushy, delicious sauce!
Last week I presented you with my super yummy Chai Tea Infused Applesauce, which I just entered into the POM Wonderful Recipe contest. Take a look and comment on their site if you wish! They will choose ten finalists on December 1oth. I’ll keep you posted on my status! Check out the link below:
Entering all kinds of recipe contests is another focus these days. I am charging ahead with the Family Fresh Cooking lifestyle . My goal is to blast through and make a path to connect people with my clean, healthy, yummy recipes and positive outlook on life. I have always had my own way of doing things. This blogger, foodie, mom, fit lifestyle thing is all starting to come together. It is wonderful to finally have an open space to be creative with my graphic design, photography and clean, healthy living lifestyle. Thanks to you guys I am inspired. I hope I am helping to enrich your lives one mindful bite at a time!
Each morning I wake up (4am thank you) heat up my Stuffed French Toast and plate up some applesauce. I slowly savor each bite of SFT dipped in applesauce. This delightful, warm, high energy breakfast kick starts my day in a big way! It’s as good as, dare I say…..my ultimate fantasy Layer Cake!
Caffeinated, maybe. Kids still asleep, yes. I love my early morning focus time.
That said, let’s make some applesauce!
Fresh Benefits:
Health benefits. Even more reasons to make your own applesauce. Not only can you control your ingredients, it is super fresh and the fresher something is the more flavor and nutrients it is bound to have. In this recipe I left the skin on all the fruit so you get even more benefits. The skin has oh so many good for you attributes. From antioxidants, to fiber and flavonoids this applesauce has it all and bunches of it. There are loads of attractive reasons to eat your sauce! (Not to mention the red color is really pretty!)
Want to know more on the health benefits of these fruits. Please click the following links.
Cranberry Pear Applesauce
{aka: Fall Fruitbowl Sauce}
about 8-10 servings:
source organic ingredients when you can
- 2 Pears: cleaned, cut into chunks, leave the skin on. I used D’anjou pear’s, use your favorite variety
- 3 Large Apples: cleaned, cut into chunks, leave the skin on. I used 2 Honey Crisp and 1 Granny Smith
- 1 Cup Cranberries
- 1 Cup Water
- 1/2 Tsp. Ground Ginger
- 1 Cinnamon stick or 1 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp Orange Extract or 1 Tbs freshly grated Orange Zest
To Sweeten: This applesauce can use some extra sweetness to balance the tartness of the cranberries. I used Stevia powder to sweeten mine. I like the flavor of stevia and it rates 0 % glycemic index. I tried NuNaturals stevia powder, and loved it! Sweeten to your taste. Below are general guidelines. The overall sweetness of your apples will be a factor in how much additional sweetener you want. Use one or a combination of the following, keep tasting to determine desired sweetness:
METHOD:
- Rinse and clean all fruit.
- In a medium pot combine all ingredients excluding Orange Zest and Sweetener.
- Bring to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer.
- Simmer applesauce for about a 1/2 hour, gently stirring occasionally.
- Take pot off stove and carefully discard Cinnamon Stick if you used one.
- With ladle add applesauce to blender or food processor.
- Add your Sweetener and Orange Extract or Zest to the mix.
- Puree until smooth.
- Enjoy!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
This looks fantastic! Nice use of stevia too.