MOM MINUTES

Wednesday Already!! The time does fly when you are having fun! HA! With 2 band competitions back to back, I have been hugely busy trying to get enough food around for those hungry band members. Luckily, I have really great band parents, and they are very generous with their food donations. For the big competition in 2 weeks, we are having a tailgate lunch, and I need about 60-75 dozen cookies. I am only up to 20 doz....and the competition is in one week....guess what I'll be doing today? Calling...e-mailing...calling...leaving messages...checking e-mails...did I mention calling?? HAHAHAHA

Here it is, folks (and Helene!)....The Wednesday Edition of:

MOM MINUTES

Apples, Apples, Apples....this time of the year, they are everywhere!! Especially this Fall; God has been very good to those with apple trees in this area; even people who say that they don't usually get good apples are finding themselves with this delectable fruit coming out of their ears! :)

I had the good fortune of getting some wonderful apples from my daughter, who got them from a farmer friend, and after giving some away to another lady in my apartment complex, I decided to make the remainder of them into Crockpot Apple Butter. It turned out so well that I want to share this with all of you. Even those of you who don't have access to lovely, right-off-the-tree apples can use this recipe. Just visit your local farmer's market or grocery store. These same lovely apples that I got are available almost anywhere this time of year!

This is the basic recipe that I used:

8 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
Approx. 1-2 c. sugar (or you can use brown sugar) Adjust to suit your own taste
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

DIRECTIONS

Fill a slow cooker with diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Cover, and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12 hours, or until thick and dark golden in color.
Pack into small, freezer-safe containers leaving 3/4 inch space at the top. Store in the freezer.

You can also leave the peels on the apples if you like. I prefer it to be smoother, but some people like it with the cooked peels. It is just a matter of taste!! But, the peels also add pectin, so this will also help to thicken up your "butter!"

Now that I have typed Mom's article for this week, I am craving apple butter!! Good thing that I have some sitting right in my kitchen; I'm going to drag out my crockpot and give this a try!! I also might make some homemade biscuits to put this on!! Oh, My! Hubby will be so happy when he gets home from work! :)