Apple season is flying by…

As I type there are several boxes of apples waiting to be made into applesauce, apple pie filling, and apple butter.

If you are into canning, and are planning on making applesauce or apple butter, there is one tool that is invaluable.  It saves so much time it will pay for itself in a single batch.

An Apple Peeler Corer Slicer (say that five times fast!) is a handy tool that is worth every penny.  If you can buy one it truly is worth it.  If you can’t buy one, borrow one…. be careful though… once you try it,  you’ll want one.

This tool makes peeling, coring and slicing easy.   My  kids love to help and it’s fun to eat apples in curly Q’s.

I also use mine to slice potatoes.   Run your potatoes through this machine.  Sprinkle with salt or seasoning, roast them in the oven and make curly fries.  You can bake the “cores” at the same time.  Deep frying is another way to cook these.

Since it is apple season I thought I’d share a recipe using applesauce.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups white flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional…. of course, if you leave them out you’d just have whole wheat applesauce cake :0)
1 cups walnuts  (also optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease baking pan (13 x 9 x 2 inches or you could do 2 layer pans).

Combine all ingredients except for the optional raisins, chocolate chips and walnuts. Beat on low for 1 minute to blend. Then turn mixer to high and beat for 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.  Add optional ingredients and mix.

Pour into pan and bake at 350 degrees.  Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. This will be about 60-65 minutes for the 13x9x2 inch pan or 50-60 minutes for the 2 layer pans.

Frost if desired.