Bullbuyer
Well-known member
cf-
My question about the whole apple butter thing is the price. This year it's been selling up here for around $4 /pint - usually its around $5/ quart. I guess with the drought and all - the apples were probably pretty high. I also noticed that the group that made this also made some sugar free apple butter! Just wouldn't be the same!
For folks that are wanting a recipe - just Google it and you'll find dozens of recipes for crockpot sized batches. When the church / civic groups make it around here it involves a 40 gallon kettle, about 10 bushels of peeled, cored and cut up apples, some sugar, cinnamon, cloves - no one can tell you ahead of time home much of each, depends on personal taste and the sweetness of the apples. This is cooked over low heat for about 8 hours or so. Everybody takes turns stirring - long wooden handled paddle, easiest way is to get a rocking chair and set to rocking/stirring. You're looking to cook the apples to a thick, spreadable consistency. Something that will stay on a spoon when held upside down.
A lot of time is involved but there are enough different tasks that almost everyone of any age can get involved - fire building, wood toting, apple peeling, getting jars ready, etc.
It's really a big social event and is a great fund raising event.
The kettle, stand and paddle are, of course, the most difficult items to acquire. A new kettle is going to run you around $400 or so. But once you've had some really good apple butter, you'll know it was worth it.
Sorry for being so long winded!
BB
My question about the whole apple butter thing is the price. This year it's been selling up here for around $4 /pint - usually its around $5/ quart. I guess with the drought and all - the apples were probably pretty high. I also noticed that the group that made this also made some sugar free apple butter! Just wouldn't be the same!
For folks that are wanting a recipe - just Google it and you'll find dozens of recipes for crockpot sized batches. When the church / civic groups make it around here it involves a 40 gallon kettle, about 10 bushels of peeled, cored and cut up apples, some sugar, cinnamon, cloves - no one can tell you ahead of time home much of each, depends on personal taste and the sweetness of the apples. This is cooked over low heat for about 8 hours or so. Everybody takes turns stirring - long wooden handled paddle, easiest way is to get a rocking chair and set to rocking/stirring. You're looking to cook the apples to a thick, spreadable consistency. Something that will stay on a spoon when held upside down.
A lot of time is involved but there are enough different tasks that almost everyone of any age can get involved - fire building, wood toting, apple peeling, getting jars ready, etc.
It's really a big social event and is a great fund raising event.
The kettle, stand and paddle are, of course, the most difficult items to acquire. A new kettle is going to run you around $400 or so. But once you've had some really good apple butter, you'll know it was worth it.
Sorry for being so long winded!
BB