distinctly fall

The yummy smell of simmering applesauce is making me very happy right now! Wish I had smell-o-vision to share with you. What is it that makes applesauce such an autumnal cooking tradition? We have apples all year round, yet the fall apple harvest triggers this frenzy of apple cooking. This is my second batch this week, and it is so easy that I thought I owe it to you to divulge my secrets: Secret #1, get yourself one of these apple peeler-corer-slicer thingies. I got mine at Mills Fleet Farm for under $20 a couple years ago, but they are available in many stores and online. It is a miracle. In short order I had 10 big Haralson apples ready for cooking. The apple is speared through the core and then rotated by turning the crank over on the right (out of the picture). The little blade on the front shaves off a thin strip of peel. As the cranking continues the apple runs into a circular blade thatmakes a continuous spiral cut. In the picture on the right the apple is nearly completely sliced.

After the slicing is all done, the good part is easily removed and you are left with the core:

Secret #2, use a crockpot.

For these 10 apples I added 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. Cook on high for about 3 hours, or until you reach the consistency that you like. Don't be afraid to load up that crockpot when you start because this really cooks down to a much smaller volume. And you want plenty to savor when it is all done!

Today we (Bob and I) have been in SW Minneapolis helping out at the new home of our daughter and son-in-law. We spent a good chunk of time outside raking and cleaning up the yard, they have a huge maple tree in the backyard that gifted them with many many lovely leaves. Not looking so lovely now in a legion of black trashbags! Then we moved indoors for some little fixit jobs, cleaning floors and washing woodwork. They just moved in 5 days ago so some boxes remain to be unpacked, but progress has been made. Transitioning from their 1 bedroom apartment in San Francisco to 3 stories of house is a pleasure for them. I even took several of Brita's boxes from our basement to her basement--yahoo!!

They have met some nice neighbors and are just in time for all the trick-or-treaters tomorrow! Even though it is a lot of work and a lot to think about, they look like they are enjoying homeownership together! Some parts of the house have had some great updates, and some still reflect the character of a house of the 50's. We are so happy that they can make this house their home. I think they need applesauce!