Dried Apples

                                       

Got Apples? Most dried fruits have sugar added to them and sulfites to prevent browning.  If you have a dehydrator (if you don't see directions below) in your house, you can make your own delicious apples easily without added all the extras you don't want to consume.  So go ahead, pick or buy in large quantity right now and you'll be so excited in January to munch on these!

Instructions For Drying Apples:

1. Pour 1 cup of orange juice and 4 cups of water into a bowl.
2. Peel and slice apples (this process is much faster if you have one of these apple peelers).  If not-be sure to slice apples very thin (or they'll take forever to dry)
   
3. Place apple slices into the bowl with the juice mixer.  The citric acid in the orange juice will treat the apples to prevent browning (the same thing sulfites do) while providing a boost of Vitamin C!
4. Let soak for 2-3 minutes
   
5. Place into a dehydrator (we use a Nesco-check out our favorite things page) at 135 degrees for about 7 hours.  If you don't have a dehydrator, put your oven at its lowest setting, which on ours is 140 degrees.  Check often, since this will be a more concentrated heat that provided in a dehydrator.
6. Enjoy!
   

   

   We store ours in canning jars and vacuum sealed bags

Nutritional Benefits of Apples:

High in fiber soluble fiber helps to improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels in the blood.  In 1 small apple there is 17% of your daily fiber
High in Vitamin C, a vitamin that aids in healing and disease prevention (anti-oxidant),  1 small apple provides 14% of Vitamin C needs

Apple Sauce-low to no added sugar

Use those apples that are awesome right now and make a delicious low sugar sauce to put on top of chicken, turkey, or to snack on.  If you're craving a warm, and comforting dessert-heat a little apple sauce up and it'll satisfy you (without added fat and sugar)!

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 Directions:
1) Cut up apples (easiest way is to use an apple peeler).  You can keep skins on if you don't mind the fact that some will be floating around in sauce (does provide added fiber and nutrients, however).  The total amount of apples you use depends on how much sauce you want.  It does cook down a lot.

2)  Place in a large pot with a little bit of orange juice to prevent browning

3)  Add cinnamon and nutmeg to taste, and depending on amount of apples being used, add water or cider to prevent sticking and to allow apples to steam. *we use a large soup pot and add about 2 -3 cups of liquid and about 4 tsp cinnamon and 2 tsp nutmeg (adjust accordingly to taste)

4) Allow pot to steam and come to a slight boil, stirring to prevent sticking.

5) Once apples have cooked down and have mushed out, taste.  You can add a little bit of honey at this time. To a large pot we add no more than 1/3 cup of honey to keep added sugars low.

6) To save you sauce you can put into freezer containers or can.  To can, place hot apple sauce into hot jars, leaving 1" head space.  Place lids on and process in hot water bath for 10 minutes (pints) and 15 minutes (quarts).


Nutritional Benefits:
Little to no added sugar
No Fat
Cinnamon: aids in blood circulation
Apples: High in fiber and Vitamin C, a vitamin that aids in healing and disease prevention (anti-oxidant), soluble fiber helps to improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels in the blood.  In 1 small apple there is 17% of your daily fiber needs and 14% of Vitamin C, so by consuming applesauce, you are consuming a great quantity of apples, and therefore fiber and Vitamin C amount (just watch total sugar)