Homemade Applesauce

This week's homemade item is applesauce. My kids love it, we buy it a lot, and going along with my new years resolution to feed my family healthier, less processed foods, I decided to make my own. Turns out I've been putting it off so long for no reason. It's SUPER easy and tastes way better than the store bought stuff. Also, your house will smell amazing wile making it. As for ingredients you will need:

However many apples you want, and a lemon

Half of the lemon will be squeezed into the apples while cooking
along with two peels (I read that this enhances the flavor of the apples)

Cinnamon (to taste) I used about 1/2Tbs

Then you will peel, quarter, and core the apples

I don't have a fancy apple corer thingy, so I had to do it the
old fashioned way with a vegetable peeler and a paring knife. 

Then add the apples and the lemon peels to a pot and squeeze in half a lemon

Careful not to drop any seeds in 

Then boil for 15-20 minutes

This is when y our house starts to smell amazing! 

Strain

Don't forget to pick out the lemon peels

And then get to mashing

we used a potato masher thing
(I don't know technical terms) 

This is where the kids can get involved

Add the cinnamon

And enjoy :)

Can be served warm or cold 

You can also make a large batch of this and can it. I am looking forward to trying that out once I get some canning supplies and learn how to do that. I think we will try getting some apples from an orchard and using those.... would be something fun to do with the whole family.

Also, I've been reading up on the benefits of lemon water and have a goal to start every day with a glass. So far it's been a week, and I must say I'm feeling great! Just drinking a big glass of water first thing in the morning is good because I feel more full and don't pig out at breakfast, but I've also noticed I'm not feeling bloated anymore. You can read about the benefits of lemon water here, and I challenge you to try it... even if just for a week and see if you notice a difference. Plus, it's fun to carry around a fancy looking drink all day :)