Spiced Apple Food

SPICED APPLES

Steps:

• Peel, core, and slice apples.
• Place all ingredients in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 15 minutes, stirring each 5 minutes.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let cool or serve warm.

STOVETOP CINNAMON APPLES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan or deep skillet bring your water and sugar to a simmer while you prepare the apples.
• Peel your apples. I cut the apples into four quarters and then remove the core. Then I cut each quarter into three or four slices.
• Once the water is simmering, carefully add a single layer of apples to the water and sugar. You don't have to do too much to them after they are in the water.
• Check at the 10 minute mark. You can turn the apple slices over if they aren't done yet.
• After 15 or 20 minutes, the apple slices will look translucent and be cooked all the way through.
• Lift them out of the sauce with a slotted spoon and put them in your serving dish.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Add another layer of apples to the water and sugar mixture and cook as before.
• When these are done, lift them out with a slotted spoon and add to the apples in the serving dish.
• Sprinkle cinnamon on the top.
• Refrigerate any leftovers and enjoy later.

SPICED APPLE-PEAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the apples, pears, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the apples and pears are very soft but still a bit chunky, 15 to 20 minutes. Taste the mixture and add the remaining tablespoon of sugar if desired.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and stir a few times until the sauce is well combined with small chunks. Cool to room temperature. Remove the cinnamon sticks and serve. (For a smoother sauce, remove from heat, remove the cinnamon sticks and then whisk the mixture until smooth before cooling.)

SPICED APPLE PIE

Steps:

• For the filling: Cut the apples into 1/4-inch slices and place them in a large bowl. Toss with the lemon juice to keep them from browning. Add the brown sugar, cornstarch, Warm Spice Blend, kosher salt and cinnamon and toss to combine. Mix in the boiled cider syrup and vanilla. Cover the mixture and let it sit at room temperature while you make the pie dough.
• For the pie dough: Add the flour, granulated sugar and kosher salt to a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse to incorporate so that about three-quarters of the mixture is mealy and the rest has some slightly larger, pea-sized bits of butter. Combine the ice water and cider vinegar in a measuring cup. Drizzle the water and vinegar into the food processor and continue to pulse just until the mixture comes together to form a dough. If it seems dry or is having a hard time coming together, add a bit more water, a few drops at a time, until it comes together.
• Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and use your hands to press on any stray crumbs. Divide the dough in half, then divide one of the halves in half again so that you have 3 pieces of dough. Pat each piece into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to roll out for the pie.
• For the assembly: Flour a work surface and roll out the largest disc of dough into a circle just larger than 12 inches. Place it in a 9-inch pie plate and refrigerate. Roll out the 2 remaining dough discs to about 10 inches each. Cut the dough into 2-inch-wide strips for making a lattice top. Set the strips aside.
• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven (with a pizza stone if you have one) and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Fill the pie crust with the apples (it will seem like a lot but they bake down!) and pour the juices over it. Distribute the butter over the top. Weave the dough strips together over and under to form a lattice crust over the top. Pinch the edges to seal, trim, fold the edges over and crimp. Give the edges a little hug to make sure they are sitting snugly on the rim of the pie plate; otherwise they could fall off in the oven. Freeze the pie for 15 minutes.
• Brush the lattice with the egg wash, then sprinkle with the turbinado sugar and flaky salt. Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake until the internal temperature reaches 195 degrees F, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Serve the pie with large dollops of whipped cream.
• Layer the cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in a medium glass jar and tighten the lid. Shake to combine. Keep on hand to add to your favorite desserts and beverages -- or just toast with butter!

SPICED APPLE RINGS

Steps:

• Wash apples. Peel and slice one apple at a time. Immediately cut crosswise into 1/2" slices, remove core area with a melon baller and immerse in ascorbic acid solution to keep the apples from discoloring.
• In a 6 quart saucepan, combine sugar, water, vinegar, cloves, cinnamon candies, or cinnamon sticks and food coloring (if using).
• Heat to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves then lower heat and simmer 3 minutes.
• Drain apples and add to hot syrup, and cook for 5 minutes.
• Fill prepared jars with apple rings and hot flavored syrup, leaving a 1/2" headspace.
• Check for air bubbles and add more liquid if needed to maintain the 1/2" headspace.
• Process pint or quart size jars in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes .
• Adjust time according to your altitude.
• NOTE: This can also be pressure canned. Pressure Canner - Hot pack pints or quarts and process for 8 minutes at the pressure specified according to your altitude and / or style of canner.

SPICED APPLES

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 2 qt saucepan.
• Add and saute apples over med heat for 5 minutes.
• Stir in fruit, nuts, salt, and cinnamon.
• Add water and cook on high until mixture boils.
• Add sugar and reduce heat to med-low.
• Simmer for 10.