Apple Butter

      Apples probably the most desired holiday food. Apple Pie, Apple cobbler,Apple Bread, Apple Sauce, Apple Butter, Apple pumpkin Butter Etc Etc Etc.

      I have to say my favorite pie is Apple then Pumpkin I make them all but maybe its the anticipation of fall that makes it all so good. Apple season I will usually make a about a dozen Pie fillings and freeeze them. Its funny I think so many people like to cook but yet they really dont cook at all. Cooking is as much about smell as it is taste. And taste of course for those of you waiting for us to get done is about anticipation. Of course to us who cook it its about much more.

     Its about the oh honey the house smells so good. The umm this is really good and seeing the smile and someone saying can I have more. Can I have more a cooks favorite words the word that always puts a smile on hard work for the ones you love. A truly good cook knows this.

      A friend of mine a manager for a restaurant asked me if I had a good fried chicken recipe. I was taken back because in my mind their are basics and Fried Chicken is one of them. It is so simple milk chicken flower and seasoning and of course grease. I like shake and bake but it is just so expensive. So I make my own as with peanut butter and cashew butter.

    So as a tribute to my readers I will give a simple recipe for apple butter and an even simpler one for home made Shake and Bake it is the best you will taste. You can put it in the fridge and it will last forever.


    Apple Butter is simple. I can make it simpler. Its about one thing cooking down the apples to a paste without burning them or the butter. Apple butter will thicken in the fridge so keep this in mind as you are cooking it down. Now to the die hard apple butter cook 3 or 4 different kinds of apples will be used. As each apple does taste different  and the blend is what you want. But as with everything else its about prep time.

    So here is simple way. Go to Kroger or walmart Buy 2 large jars of apple sauce 50 oz jars. This will cook down to about 8 half pint jars.


    IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

   At this time adding anything except sugar can ruin everything it will not taste the same when you start as when you finish. Cooking things down makes the spices and salts stronger so be sparing with them in the beginning.

   So the easiest way to make your apple butter is with your crock pot. Empty the 2 jars into your crock pot large crock pot. Add 5 cups of sugar and turn it on high for 2 hours. This will take all day or longer depending on how thick you like your butter.

   I usually cook mine down to half the volume that I started with.

   Ok lets back up for a minute if you want apple sauce and apple butter you will have to start with real apple's and will need a blender or food processor.

   Apple butter whether you start from whole apples or apple sauce always starts with apple sauce. SO naturally when I make my apple butter I also make apple sauce. I make my apple sauce with no sugar. So I can add it for whatever it is im making next. Some times I like it without sugar other times I add it to my apple sauce my tastes change like the weather.

   Keep in mind  SO if you are buying your apple sauce this can also be considerably cheaper. As apples at walmart can start in season at about a dollar fifty a pound in season. And usually cost close to the same at your local farmers market. So if you buy your apple sauce natural unsweetened it will cost you 1.86 for 3 pounds this is cheaper than fresh apples and you can not tell the difference when your done. I have done both and prefer to buy apple sauce but only if Im making butter only. Which on occasion someone wants a batch of apple butter. And you can save the big jars for something else.

   Ok you will see in the recipe that their are very few actual measurements except apples and sugar. And even then the sugar isnt a stick to the recipe. I dont use many measures I have them but to me its season to taste. So I add it as I go towards the end for example I like just a hint of salt just enough to tell you its their.

    Ok a little known tid bit if you take a spoon and taste your cold jams or jellies or other refrigerated foods the enzymes from your mouth will continue to break down the food when you store it thats why when you open the jelly or jam or anything else their is water in it. Its then enzymes from the human body doing their job without you. Never take a spoon twice in the food unless you use another clean spoon its not bad but it will go bad faster then if you us a clean spoon or other utensil every time.

     The Basics to Apple butter are:

    Apples at least 5 pounds if starting from apples buy some red and some gala and some granny smith green apples granny smith is just a name for sour apples which are used in apple pie.

     This is all season to taste about an hour before you say its as thick as you like it.

     Cinnamon
     Ground clove
     Salt
     Sugar

    Now you can subtract or add here some people do not like clove I do Some people replace the clove with ground nut meg some people add vanilla all of these are good and work all though be very careful with ground nutmeg I like it but a little goes a long ways. I do not use Vanilla I like vanilla but not in apple butter. This is all season to taste. 

    If Starting from apples peel and core the apples place in food processor and blend till smooth add water till desired texture is achieved. Wella you have apple sauce all natural no additives all natural.

    Place the Apple sauce in the crock pot turn it on high for two hours then to low now if you are like me you have many other things to do so low is good it wont burn and still gets the job done. If you have nothing else to do and are just making apple butter us High it gets done faster. In 12 hours it will be cooked down enough and have enough thickness for you to add your other flavors and spices.

    If you do not have a crock pot use a thick bottom pot with the burner on low and stir constantly to assure it does not burn the butter. If you intend on doing a lot of cooking at home you would be wise to buy yourself a good set of cookware. If you live in areas where their is a ross store you can buy the best piece by piece and not really save much but it takes the sting out a nice set of cookware as with knives. Its easier in the beginning to buy a good set of knives Chicago cutlery or J.A. Hinkle you can buy Hinkle at Target stores by the piece or Chicago Cutlery at walmart by the piece. These knives can be sharpened and last way longer than a cheap set if you buy either you will have them forever and most electric can openers have knife sharpeners on the back.

  A good quality Knife set will set you back a minimum of 200 bucks.

   Ok now to the Shake and Bake

   Here is the reason you never throw away the heal in the bread and a away to use un used bread. save them till you have enough I just throw mine in the freezer and when the pile starts to bother me and take up to much space then I make my Shake and Bake or bread crumbs. All shake and Bake is is bread crumbs that have been seasoned to taste and oil but I do have a recipe which I will give you. Just remember you go to the store and pay good money for bread crumbs and shake and bake STOP That.


   I usually make about for cups at a time so I save my bread in the freezer and when it gets to be to much I start toasting it. To me I like my toast a little on the burnt side so I toast for a little longer. Ok it is way to hard to take bread that has not been toasted and make bread crumbs you need to toast it then drop it in the food processor or blender and blend to crumbs.

  Put it in a bowl and add your seasoning and oil toss till it is well tossed and put in the fridge wella again your done. when you need it for so chicken or pork take it out and put some in a baggy and add chicken or pork shake and put on cookie sheet. cook like you would any other meat cook your chicken till it reaches 160 degrees inside and take it out let cool and eat.

   Directions for Shake and Bake

       4 cups dry bread crumbs
         1/3 cup vegetable oil
         1 tablespoon salt
         1 tablespoon paprika
         1 tablespoon celery salt
         1 teaspoon ground black pepper
         1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
         1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
         1/4 teaspoon minced onion
         1 pinch dried basil leaves
         1 pinch dried parsley
         1 pinch dried oregano


           In a large resealable plastic bag combine the crumbs, oil, salt, paprika, celery salt, pepper, garlic salt, minced garlic, minced onion, basil, parsley and oregano. Seal bag and shake all ingredients together. Have Fun and Merry Christmas