Even though winter & Christmas are upon us I still love to use apples. Apples all year long for me. I know some people stop using or baking or cooking with certain ingredients after certain times of the year. Not me. If I can find an apple, I will use it! However, in saying that…I refuse to pay $10 for 5-6 apples though. So price is what would honestly keep me from using them.
We do and I have paid those prices since we moved here but I am appalled that we are paying those prices, especially when the apples come from right down the road..by that I mean we have local apple orchards here in Aomori. The best apples in the world too. Apple picking season is now officially over here though.
There is a little Japanese outdoor market called the “9’s Market”. Any day that has a 9 in it…like the 9th, 19, 29….The market is open and running. You can get awesome deals on fresh, very fresh produce, fish, plants and other things. Think of a smallish Farmer’s Market.
I took my friend friend Sarah there on the 19th in hopes of scoring a crate of apples for a decent price…I had high hopes and the locals came through for me! I got a huge crate of apple that I counted around 70 beautiful apples for 1000¥. That equals about $12USD. Hell Yes!!
What does one do with that many apples? Well, my husband and I were helping put on a Thanksgiving dinner for all the single/unaccompanied sailors on the base here and it was my plan to make apple pies. Not just any apple pie mind you, but an AMAZING apple pie with Apple Butter. Yup! Will soon be sharing that recipe too!
I have to be honest, before making this, I’d never tasted Apple Butter before…I mean, I’ve seen it at the grocery store but that’s about it. When I told my husband I was making it, his eye’s lit up and I swear I saw a twinkle in them too…seriously. Okay, enough talking, get to peeling those apples to make this recipe ASAP! It is super easy, super delicious!!
- 20 Medium Sized Apples
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups Brown Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 4 Teaspoons Cinnamon
- Peel, core, and slice apples. Put them in the crockpot with the vanilla and cook on low for 8 hours. Stir every few hours. Once apples are very, very tender, mash with a potato masher and then stir in sugar and spices. Cook on low for another 6-7 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Fully cool and pour into jars or an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator.
Kathy says
December 1, 2012 at 8:15 amThis looks and sounds so delicious…and I love that you make it in your crockpot! A great time saver!
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