I am worried. I have 35 quarts of apple sauce and some on the stove right now, I have 6 pints of apple pie filling, and I am making Apple butter today. And I have about 2 or 3 more BUSHELS of apples on the tree. What the heck am I going to do with all the rest of these apples?

I HATE to throw them in the compost, I have already given away about 50lbs of them, but it is just a bumper year for both of the trees and so it has been a crazy month filled with apples...

I haven't even gotten plums or blackberries yet becuase of the apples. Anyone? Bueller?

Val

Make more sauce and butter and sell it for the holidays.

I did just elect two friends to come and get a bunch this afternoon when they pick up their kids from playdates. YAY! I think I may have gotten rid of a few now... lol... The rest I will make some apple butter to give as gifts, and I will make a bit more just plain applesauce for the baby (cus even next summer he won't be able to eat strawberries or cherries... but the peach will be ok).

Thanks for the idea though, and anyone else? Keep them coming... I have another bushel or so to do something with even after I am done with these plans. :o

I'd make more apple pie filling, as you can use it for pies, apple cake, apple crisp, etc. Pints are pretty small. Or you can make the apple pies now if you have freezer space.

Of course, then I would send applesauce, apple butter, and apple pie filling to Southern California for a certain friend to eat (and she would pay you).

:heart: As much as I would LOVE to send you applesauce, that would cost SO much! lol... I wonder... you should check and see how much 12 quarts of applesauce would cost to ship UPS.

It is true that I can use the applepie filling for everything... but I haven't found a recipe I really love yet (hence the pints). Yes it tastes GREAT, but it gets all strange looking in the jars because of the corn starch. I have to figure out another pectin that doesn't cause that clumping. It works really well for cooking though. ;)

Val

The secret for canning apple pie filling is using modified food starch. I've only found it available for sale in Utah. My SIL cans pie filling and this is what makes it possible. I have some called ultra gel. The company that makes it also makes several other starches that work for things like this. The ultra gel thickens things whether they are cold or hot.

Here is the company that makes them: J. Carnet (http://www.carnetfoods.com/index.html).

The store in West Jordan, Utah that sells it might be willing to mail you some. It doesn't weigh a lot.

edited to add: I was looking at their website and it looks like the one thats best for canning pie fillings would be thick gel (http://www.carnetfoods.com/kitchen/ThickGel.html). They will sell it to you directly from their website.

I've eaten pies made from canned filling using this and it works great!

Laurie

That is wonderful Laurie... thank you! I will check and see if we have that anywhere around here. I think there is a Certo recipe too... I just need to keep looking.

I got another two bushels today. That is 100# of apples. :eek: OMG there are SO many!!! I gave away a who bushel to two friends... and I am sure there are two more bushels on there. This is after the 25 quarts of applesauce I have already made and the bushel I have composted (and the bushel my dad has composted too)... You guys, this is crazy. I wish you all lived closer. I would totally share the bounty this year... becuase there are WAY to many for me to handle alone. lol!

Val

Can you dehydrate them? That what I would do and then use them later in granola, muffins, cakes, pie ect. I have a dehydrator, but I'm pretty sure there are directions on the web if you google on how to do it in your oven.

Jayne

:heart: As much as I would LOVE to send you applesauce, that would cost SO much! lol... I wonder... you should check and see how much 12 quarts of applesauce would cost to ship UPS.

Val

You're right (sigh). I'll have to wait until apples are in season here and start hitting the U-pick orchard (transitioning to certified organic).

Whoa, that is a lot of apples. It makes me tired just thinking of making that much applesauce.

Any foodbanks in your area? Fresh food is at a premium at foodbanks, usually!

I wish *I* lived close enough to benefit from your bumper crop! :D

I am, right this second, making my 7th batch of applesause. YIKES! I got three families of my friends to come and pick apples and each went home with at least a box of them... and I still have more to pick this week. Now I am working on sugar free (fruit juice sweetened) plain applesauce pints for the baby for next summer. I did one batch with apple juice concentrate, and now am doing another with white grape juice concentrate.

If I get really tired this week I will surely keep the food bank in mind. I know that is what we do with our sunday CSA foods at the farm. :D

Val

Okay, second to living near you and coming and raiding your trees, I wish I lived near ANYONE with a bumper crop of anything! lol When I live in areas with lots of fruit trees, I usually go cruise the neighborhood knocking on doors...people are usually really happy to let me take whatever I want, cause they have too much for themselves, lol! Unfortunately, living in the heart of Sydney, while great for running out for a great cup of coffee, is pretty low on things like fruit trees! :rolleyes:

I used the last of it for juice. I have another quart of juice in the fridge and I am loving the fresh apple juice!