A is for Apple

As American as apple pie! Since the sole apple native to the Americas is the crab apple, it is a mystery why an apple pie received this appellation. Stranger still may be including a maternal parent in the adage. As American as Mom and apple pie suggests that mom may just be a little ‘crabby’. Mmmm! Let her be crabby as long as she keeps churning out the pies. There appears to be no end to the variety of apples at a time when other food are tending to monocultures, so Johnny Appleseed would be proud of the way we have continued his life’s labour. Meanwhile how about a dish of applesauce?

Apples                 About 2 pounds (usually 5/6 apples) peeled, cored and sliced ¼ “thick, Pick them according to your own taste sweet or sour, but use crisper ones - Granny Smiths are my choice.
Water                   ¼ cup boiling (no instructions for this one).
Cinnamon            1/8 teaspoon ground.
Cloves                  1/8 teaspoon ground
Sugar                   1/2 cup granulated.

Over medium high heat, heat the first 4 items to boiling, cover, reduce heat and simmer 10/12 minutes until tender for chunky applesauce. For smoother sauce break up slices with wooden spoon and cook for additional 5/6 minutes until of desired consistency. Either way, add and stir in the sugar for the last 3 to 4 minutes of cooking time. As a bonus treat for the grownups pour in a ¼ cup of Grand Marnier or orange liqueur along with the sugar.