This weekend promises to be cool and rainy, and by the looks of things the weatherman wasn't lying. Before the rain arrived, I went out into the orchard this morning and filled my 2.5 gallon bucket with dropped apples to make applesauce in the crock pot.
Kim over at Achorn Farm gave me the idea. I picked up a mix of Yellow Delicious and Gala apples. After peeling and coring, I cut the apples into chunks and put them in the crock pot along with 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 cinnamon sticks. I let it cook on "High" for 3 hours then used my new immersion blender to puree the applesauce to a fine texture. If you don't have an immersion blender get one. You'll throw your countertop blender away!While the applesauce simmered I took a nap. The house smelled wonderful when I woke up with apple and cinnamon smells throughout the whole house!
The peels and cores from four pounds of apples filled a large Cool Whip container which went out to the chickens. I think they appreciated it. I keep this plastic container in the small section of the kitchen sink. Egg shells, peels, fat trimmings and any other "waste" generated in the kitchen ends up in the container which gets emptied each afternoon when I call the chickens in.
They've been eating a lot of apples this month. I go out into the orchard regularly to fill the bucket with bruised fruit left on the ground after the apples were picked. I love the whole "I feed you, you feed me" principle. I feed my chickens all of my kitchen "waste"...
...and in return they feed me the best eggs I've ever had.
Do you spray your apples? I didn't and they were awful and hardly usable. Next year I am determined to spray properly and see what kind of crop I get.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet that is nice applesauce!
I made some last weekend. Are you going to can any of it?
I have that same crock pot. The other day I had an immersion blender in my shopping cart because I heard that work great for soap making. John gave me crap and I put it back. It was $10...little stinker. Never shop with a cheap skake!(sp.?)
ReplyDeleteDon, my cousin who runs the family orchard sprays several times a year. We had a very wet spring so we still had some black spot problems but a very large crop. I have two pints in the freezer right now and I might make some more. Canning is way beyong what I I am willing to do though!
ReplyDeleteKim, From what I've read it's best to buy a really good immersion blender from the get go. This is the first one I've had and I must say it's very impressive. I made homemade mayonnaise in about 45 seconds!!!
We have been making apple butter here. Make the applesauce during the day and let the apple butter cook all night in the crockpot. The best smell you could ask for. I love my immersion blender too.
ReplyDeleteChris
Yummy, What a way to wake up to the smell of apples. I love your pink eggs. I only have 2 chickens. but no eggs yet. They are still getting use to a new home.
ReplyDeleteNo picture of the finished product? For shame! Sounds wonderful, Amy! I have a Cuisinart immersion blender and I love it. It's definitely worth it to get the good one. Mine even came with a mini food processor attachment which is great for mincing garlic and herbs and for making soft bread crumbs. I use it all the time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, I love it. I love your process for applesauce, and capturing all those fallen apples. And I like your nap while they simmered too (what I call the "ruthie method").
ReplyDeleteThe photos are great, I especially love the one looking straight down at the chickens eating apple peels! You're inspiring.
So how was the apple sauce? Do you cook on low or high and for how long? And how much does 4 pounds make? You MUST tell me! lovely eggs, I only have one chicken and I caught her in the parking lot of my sons school - imagine that! I cant wait to get more but I'm waiting until spring since they dont lay in the winter, and until i build a proper chicken coop, mine is a dog pen fashioned into a coop....ummm not too pretty and not the best but functional for an impromtu coop! I love the audience listening to your son play! Too cute!
ReplyDeleteHomemade applesauce sounds fantastic. I LOVE having chickens. They are always so greatful when we have little "treats" for them. I can't wait for spring, I want to get more. This batch was kind of a trial run and we LOVE the run!!
ReplyDeleteChris, thanks! Now you've got the wheels turnin'!
ReplyDeleteGrammy, nothing is better than your own fresh eggs. I hope your girls are lots of fun for you.
Susan, I KNEW you would yell at me for not posting a picture of the final product! LOL It is delicious! I saw the immersion blender that you have but I didn't think I'd find a use for the mini food processor so I ordered mine instead. I LOVE IT. Next time I make split pea soup it's going to come in real handy!
Ruth, thank you! Isn't it nice how ideas can be found as we read each other's blogs? Kim inspired me and now I've inspired you. Do try some crock pot applesauce, I think you'll love the results.
kyfarmlife, the applesauce is wonderful! It's not bitter in any way and it's very smooth with just the right amount of sweet (1/2 cup sugar). The recipe in my post will make about 8 1/2 cups of applesauce. I froze half of that and the rest we've been snacking on. I hope you do get more chickens. I'm so glad I have mine. Not only do they lay wonderful eggs but they are also a real hoot! The kids just love them. It doesn't matter what you use for a coop--chickens aren't picky about where they live.
Mandie, I have plans for ordering 5 more pullets and some meat chickens next spring. This was my first time with my own flock and it has been a really good experience so far.
You have inspired me to go pick all the apples off our trees and try and make some of this applesauce. We don't spray, but we still get some decent apples (just ask Jasmine the donkey!):)
ReplyDeleteTammy, I hope you'll post about your results with the applesauce. It's such a convenient way to make it. They do make organice sprays using all natural ingredients. If I had trees of my own, that's what I'd use.
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