Curtis Apple Butter Food

ALLSPICED APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place the apples in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over low heat. Cook, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add the brown sugar and spices; continue cooking over low heat, stirring occasionally, until very thick, about 30 minutes more. To test for doneness, place a spoonful of the mixture on a white plate and let sit for 20 seconds. If a ring of liquid forms around the apples, there is still too much liquid in the mixture. Continue cooking and testing until no ring forms.

APPLE BUTTER-GLAZED COCKTAIL FRANKS

Steps:

• In the bowl of a medium slow cooker (3-quart), combine the apple butter, chicken stock, BBQ sauce, apple juice, maple syrup or honey, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Whisk to thoroughly combine. Add the cocktail franks, stirring to mostly submerge them in the sauce. Cover and cook on high until heated through, about 3 hours. Serve warm in the sauce.

APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Cook the apples in the cider, stirring continuously for nearly 8 hours. In the last hour or so, add the sugar. Stir in the flavoring. Once butter is thick enough to stick to an upside down saucer, the butter is done and ready to be canned.

CURTIS ' BAKED APPLES

Steps:

• Place apples in an 8x8 baking dish or round oval. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture in the cavities. Mix the cherries, walnuts and butter and fill the cavities. Pour the cider in the bottom of the baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
• Tip: APPLE RINGS
• Slice apples paper thin in rings. Spread on nonstick baking sheet, and bake at 220 degrees for one hour.

CHEF JOHN'S APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place apple pieces into a large slow cooker. Add white sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and vinegar. Add a splash of water and mix well.
• Cover and cook on High until apples are starting to soften and release liquid, 1 to 2 hours. Reduce heat to Low and cook, uncovered, until all the apple flesh is dissolved, 5 to 6 hours. Stir occasionally.
• Puree using an immersion blender until smooth. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until darkened and thick, about 4 hours more. Pass apple butter through a strainer if desired. Seal in a glass container and refrigerate until cool.

CERTO APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
• Remove blossom and stem ends from unpeeled apples. Core apples; cut into quarters. Place in 4-qt. saucepan. Add water and lemon juice; stir. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium heat 20 min. or until apples are tender, stirring occasionally. Press mixture through food mill or strain through coarse sieve, using wooden spoon to force apples through mill; discard peels. Measure exactly 5 cups of the prepared fruit into 6- or 8-qt. stockpot. Stir in cinnamon.
• Stir sugar into prepared fruit in stockpot. Add butter to reducing foaming. Bring to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to full rolling boil; cook exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing centers of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

SWEET AND CHUNKY APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• 1. Cut McIntosh apples into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Cut Granny Smith apples into smaller dice.
• 2. Combine apples and cider in a very large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and boil gently for 20 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half.
• 3. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Return to a boil, reduce heat, and boil gently for about 25 minutes or until mixture is very thick. There should still be some tender apple chunks remaining. Remove from heat.
• 4. Ladle into sterilized jars and process as directed for Shorter Time Processing Procedure .
• Variation: Spiced Apple Butter
• Add 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each ground cloves and allspice with the sugar.