Crock-pot Apple Butter

Homemade Apple Butter

• Apples are on sale at my local grocery store, and I got super excited.

• Fall is coming. 
• In LA fall means 
• increasing the AC during the day,
• watching giant palm fronds float slowly down til they smash onto your car

• But you do get to switch to jeans and a super light jacket most nights. 
• Which is truly my more favorite part of LA fall. 
• So with very few leaves changing color, and no reason to break out my scarf collection, 
• I wanted to do something to celebrate a "change of season." 
• Apple Butter. 
• My dad and I both loved the stuff. 
• I looked forward to buying him a jar from the apple farms outside of LA most years. 

• To help tide me over til that October-November based trip...I idly read a recipe for apple butter. 
• It described putting it in a pot and stirring for a day. 
• This got me super excited, not because I can stand over a stove. 
• My top time there is ten minutes, 
• I then wander away and start dreaming of Star Wars themed outfits 
• and consequently start a small house fire.
• But anything that calls to be in a pot for hours might also be available for crock-pot cooking. 
• Where you're supposed to go away, 
• and google Rey and puzzle out a way to recreate her outfit.
• Looks like grey sweatpants are involved...score!
• And the only things put at risk are the things within melting distance of the crock-pot
• And the internet gave a resounding yes. 
• A lot of crock-pot apple butter recipes exist 
• So, here is my experimental version of the classic apple butter.
• I started with 12 apples
• Wash them
• Gaze at them 
• Name them 
• Then get ready to destroy them
• First off coring and peeling the apple.
• There is a lot of debate about whether this a good idea or not.
• Some reference the cyanide in the apple seeds and say core it
• Some say for texture better to do without
• Others reference the pectin hidden in the core as necessary
• I'm for smooth texture and cyanide free food (even if it's negligible amount), so I cored and peeled my apples.
• Plus, I have this nifty machine a great friend of the family gave me years ago.
• World Market is currently having a sale on them for $8

• It's a one stop shop of wonder.

• So, turns out my apples were a little mushy for the machine, so I ended up doing it mostly with a knife and cutting board
• Next the sliced apples went into the crock pot

• Then add a half cup of vinegar to the crock-pot. 

• Put the crock-pot on high and prepare the next bit

• 4.5 cups of sugar
• 1 TB of Vanilla
• Because I add it to everything!
• 1\2 TB of cinnamon
• 1\2 TSP of Garam Masala (or you can use cloves instead if that's more your thing)
• Note: Add spices at your own discretion, but  be aware that spices that are slowly cooked all day become stronger in flavor.
• 
• Stir together the spices, extract, and sugar

• Note: The vanilla will leave lumps like in a sandbox: This is okay

• Add in the sugar, stir and coat the apple slices well. 
• Set a timer on your phone for an hour (or two if you want to speed up the process)
• Google the fact that Barbie and Ken broke up in 2004.
• Or use your time more wisely by figuring out the fabric on Ray's outfit

• Cotton Scrim?
• Photo above of cotton scrim. 
• It looks close enough for me, and is cheaper than Viscose at least in my half hazard google search
• It's been an hour? 
• Move the the crock pot to low.
• Give it a good stir
• Go enjoy your life for the next 12 hours with occasional stirring.
• Warning: if you stay at home the smell of the spices make might induce unusual hunger levels, 
• and, if you're like me, you might inexplicably find yourself gnawing on a block of cheese
• Remember to occasionally stir when you remember it exists
• After 12 hours stir really well.
• Remove from heat
• Let cool
• Blend in a blender
• For maximum smoothness

Left apple butter from crock-pot, Right after being blended

• Reheat and bring to a boil one last time for ten minutes
• Mine tasted a bit to bitter for me still, so I added a cup of sugar into the mix
• Cool
• Put into sterilized containers to freeze or to use within a couple weeks
• Spread on toast and enjoy!

RECIPE RECAP:

• Start with:
•  12 apples (peeled and cored)
• 1\2 Vinegar
• Put in crockpot.
• Mix Together
• 4.5 cups of sugar
• 1 TB of Vanilla
• Because I add it to everything!
• 1\2 TB of cinnamon
• 1\2 TSP of Garam Masala
• Coat apples with the spice and sugar mixture
• Put crockpot on high for an hour
• Stir on occasion
• Switch to low for 12 hours
• Stir on occasion
• Blend
• Add another cup of sugar (if wanted)
• Reheat for ten minutes
• Freeze, or refrigerate in sterile containers
• Enjoy