September means Fall.

And Fall means Apple Picking.
And that means Applesauce.

We went apple picking with our friends and got several bushels of apples. It was VERY hot. But the orchards are gorgeous and climbing trees is FUN!





We picked two different kinds of apples at 2 different orchards--when you blend types of apples, you get good flavors. Mmmmmm. A few days later, we went to our friends' farm to learn how to can applesauce and worked at it for the ENTIRE day together (reason #697 to homeschool--real hands-on learning of life skills as well as academic skills and LOADS of social time with friends). We've frozen applesauce before but our freezer is full and we're working on making room in the freezer since our friends are also raising a pig for us and we're sharing the meat from that and that'll be in a few months. So, apples.

First, you collect and mix all the apples.

Then you wash them.

Then you cut and core them and pour them into a solution with lemon juice in it. While cutting and coring, you WILL get a lot of apple juice splashing on you. It smells like summer and fall at the same time. Yum. Bonus, you get to discuss politics with your awesome friends.

Then, on a propane burner outside, you cook and cook and cook the apples in a big, huge pot.

And, of course, you have a water fight with your good friend to cool off.

You scoop the cooked, soft apples . . .

. . . into the food mill and press them through it.
The peel comes out one place, the applesauce another.

Then, you set up your canning station. You wash your canning jars and heat them in the oven. Then you ladle the applesauce into your warm jars using a funnel. You scrap around the inside to remove air bubbles. Then you measure to allow for head space at the top. Then you wipe down the top and using a magnet thingy, you grab a lid from the warm water pot on the stove and apply it to the top of your jar. Screw it shut tightly.

Then, you go outside to can using a water bath canner on a propane burner.

You keep cooking during all of this because you've got 4 bushels of apples.

You enjoy some time doing some of your favorite things--hanging out with babies, cats, and books.

You make a total chalk mess to do body art.

And, after a long day's work and some good kitchen clean up, you have 60 quarts of applesauce, 30 for you and 30 for your friends. And you have fresh, homemade applesauce to enjoy all winter long. YUM! To find out more about making applesauce, be sure to read The Magic Violinist's take on it.