Alright, listen up, y’all. Today, we’re gonna talk about makin’ some red hot applesauce, the kind that warms your belly and makes your toes curl. I ain’t no fancy chef, mind you, just an old woman who knows her way around the kitchen. This ain’t gonna be no complicated recipe with all them fancy words you can’t even pronounce.
First thing’s first, you gotta get yourself some apples. Don’t matter what kind, really, but I like the ones that are a little tart, you know, the ones that make you pucker up a bit. Apples, apples, apples, that’s what you need the most! Wash ‘em good, get all that dirt and stuff off. Them store-bought apples, they look all shiny and pretty, but who knows what kind of sprays and stuff they put on ’em. So wash ’em good.
Now, you gotta chop them apples up. Don’t gotta be perfect, just cut ’em up into chunks, you know, bite-sized pieces. I ain’t got time for no fancy dicing and slicing. Just chop ’em up good and proper. And don’t you go cuttin’ your fingers now, be careful with that knife!
- Get yourself a big ol’ pot. The bigger the better, ’cause we gonna be stirrin’ and cookin’ and you don’t want that applesauce spillin’ all over the stove. That’d be a mess, wouldn’t it?
- Dump them chopped apples into the pot. Yep, just dump ’em right in.
- Now, for the sugar. I ain’t gonna tell you how much, ’cause it all depends on how sweet you like your applesauce. I like mine a little tart, so I don’t put in too much. But if you got a sweet tooth, go ahead and add more. Just taste it as you go, that’s what I do. A little bit here, a little bit there, you’ll figure it out.
Next up, somethin’ to make it zing! That’s the lemon juice. Just a squirt or two, not too much, just enough to give it a little bit of tang. You know, like when you bite into a lemon and your eyes go all squinty? Yeah, that’s the zing we’re lookin’ for. If you ain’t got no lemons, well, I guess you could use some vinegar, but it ain’t quite the same. Lemon juice makes it better, believe me.
And then, the secret ingredient, the one that makes it “red hot.” That’s cinnamon, y’all. Not just a little sprinkle, mind you. We’re talkin’ a good heaping spoonful, maybe two. I like to use the kind that comes in sticks, you know, the real stuff. But if all you got is the powdered kind, that’ll work too. Just make sure you put in enough, so it gives it that nice warm, spicy flavor. Cinnamon, that’s the trick!
Now, you gotta add some water. Just enough to keep the apples from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Maybe a cup or so, maybe a little more. You don’t wanna drown them apples, just give them enough liquid to cook in. If it gets too thick, just add a little more water, ain’t no big deal.
Put that pot on the stove, turn the heat up to medium, and let it cook. You gotta stir it every now and then, so them apples don’t stick and burn on the bottom. And you gotta keep an eye on it, ’cause it can go from cookin’ just fine to burnin’ in a heartbeat. It’ll take a while, maybe 45 minutes, maybe an hour, just depends on how soft you want your applesauce.
You’ll know it’s done when the apples are all soft and mushy, and the whole house smells like cinnamon and apples. That’s the best part, that smell. Takes me back to my childhood, you know? Homemade applesauce, can’t beat it. If it’s too chunky for ya, you can take a potato masher and mash it up some more, make it nice and smooth. Or if you like it chunky, leave it as is. It’s up to you.
And that’s it, y’all. Red hot applesauce, just like my grandma used to make. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good. It’ll warm you up on a cold day, and it’ll make your house smell amazing. And it’s a whole lot better than that store-bought stuff, let me tell you. So go on, make yourself some applesauce. You won’t regret it.
Now, I’m gonna go have myself a bowl. Maybe with a little bit of cream on top. Oh, that sounds good, doesn’t it? You go on now, get to cookin’!
Tags: [applesauce, red hot, homemade, recipe, easy, cinnamon, apples, cooking, fall, winter, comfort food]