Share It!
 |
Don’t you love it when you meet someone new and have an instant connection? That’s how I felt when I first met Appalachian author Joanne Bischof.
I was thrilled when she offered to share her tutorial and recipe for Apple Butter. I know you’ll adore Joanne as much as I do.
In her words:
As an author of Appalachian romance, I love doing research. But what’s even more fun than the research, are the hands-on activities that harken back to the early 1900’s, the days of my characters. I’m a country girl at heart but am still new to the world of simple living, so when I started blogging about two years ago, I decided to start a thread called the “Adventures of Country Living.” I really wanted to embrace the spirit that we don’t have to be an expert at something to give it a try.
It’s all about having fun and learning something new, right? Plus, embracing the pioneer spirit brings us closer to one another and closer to our own two hands resulting with that “I can’t believe I did it!” victory dance. Yes, I victory dance when projects turn out well.
One of those projects that I’ve been skirting around for a while is canning. I met Melissa and instantly fell in love with her pioneering ways and encouraging spirit, plus her tutorials are awesome! I tried her apple pie filling tutorial and it was fabulous. I still had ton of apples, and when she encouraged me to give canning a try, I did!
I called up my neighbor who had all the canning supplies and my mother-in-law had some cases of jars she wanted to use up, so…I was officially out of excuses. I made a few changes to the recipe, like cutting the sugar and using apple cider to replace some of the water and it turned out delicious. I’d love to share it with you today!
Recipe (This made about 7 half pints):
8 pounds of apples (about 32 medium)
4 cups of sugar (or more as needed, up to 8 cups)
4 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon cloves
Wash apples, core, peel and quarter (or you can leave them whole and simply use a food mill). Combine apples with 4 cups of liquid (water or cider—the more cider ratio you use, the more apple-y it will be!) Simmer until apples are soft, then mash or puree to desired consistency. (I used a potato masher and wished I had a food mill to get it a little more fine.) Continue to heat apple mixture on low, stirring frequently, until it thickens to desired consistency (I allowed mine to thicken for about an hour, though it could have gone a little longer). As it turns into apple butter, it will become darker and rich.
During this time, I had washed the jars, rings and lids in the dishwasher and everything was keeping warm. The canning kettle was filled to the right level and the water had begun to boil. I set the lids to heat on the stove in a little water and got all set up to begin the canning process. I ladled hot apple butter into the hot jars, leaving ¼ inch of head space as the recipe called for, wiped the jar mouths with a clean, damp rag and gently screwed the lids on. We live at a high altitude, so I processed the jars for an extra ten minutes, 20 minutes total.
Let me just say, that pulling the jars out of the canner and hearing the lids pop into place filled this newbie with a sense of joy. I might have started doing the happy dance right then and there! We popped open a can the following day and spread it on our favorite pancakes and it was amazing. The kids loved it and my husband who adores all things apple was in heaven. So much that we started on our second jar before breakfast was even over.
***
About Joanne:
Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their home schooled children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life. The first book in her Appalachian Romance series, Be Still My Soul, released this October.
Be Still My Soul is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Yep, you read that right. One of the best.
I expected to like this book due to the setting. Raised in the mountains, I was excited to read this novel. Joanne blew me away from the first page. I instantly felt tied to Lonnie. Her pain was mine to the degree my throat ached with tears. This is not your average shot-gun wedding novel. The characters are excellent, the story complex, and the emotion high, with the whisper of God tugging at your soul.
What’s your favorite way to preserve apples? What’s the best book you’ve read this year?
This post is featured on The Homestead Barn Hop.
|
Share It!
Great interview! I love apple butter and the recipe sounds delicious. I have read the book “Be still my Soul” also. It was such a beautiful story – full of unexpected twists that made for a fabulous read!
Thanks, Janette. I’m planning on using Joanne’s recipe this weekend.
“Be Still my Soul” was great wasn’t it? I loved the surprises peppered through out.
Janette, Which reminds me, I have a jar with your name on it!
You are such a cheerleader and so dear to me!
I love apple butter on my pancakes! I grew up doing that instead of syrup. Great post! I might just have to make some apple butter this season.
Loree, I’ve never had apple butter on my pancakes, but you can guess we’ll be trying it out now! I’m excited to make this recipe, plus it makes the house smell amazing.
Hi Loree! I grew up with it too! Isn’t there just something about the taste of apple butter that takes you straight to autumn?
This was the first time I’d made it homemade and the fresh taste was amazing 
Melissa, thanks so much for having me today and my apple butter recipe! You were such an encouragement to try canning and your recipes and tutorials inspire me to keep embracing the pioneer spirit!
I’m thrilled to have you. The biggest part of embracing the pioneer spirit is encouraging and helping others. You my friend, have that part down, and the rest is following swiftly.
Looking forward to walking the pioneer journey with you.
Who knew there was no butter in apple butter!? I’m such a wanna be pioneer woman. Suburbs woman who dreams of pioneer days. That’s a better title for me!
Love you guys… I can’t wait for Book 2 in your series, Joanne. After knowing your hero’s — um — flaws, I am so NERVOUS with anticipation.
~Ashley
by the way, my paternal grandmother gave me her food mill when she moved into the retirement center. It’s awesome. I would share it with you, Joanne, but it’s one of my prized possessions. I’ve used it to make potato gnocci before. Going to try it on your apples!!!
Hi Ashley! I love it: suburb mama who dreams of pioneer days. YOU amaze me with your crafting creations, party planning extraordinaire. You have a gift! I will forgive you for not lending me your gran’s foodmill because you’re going to invite us over for some gnocci. Right?
Hey, Ashley, happy to have you here. Even in the suburbs, you can still be a pioneer girl! Did you read Laura Ingalls Wilder growing up? It was my favorite series and still is.
I love baking and I live reading. When the recipe calls for boiling and stirring…that’s time to read with one hand and stir with the other!
Melody, you are a woman after my own heart…reading/stirring…that’s the best way!
I can see you have your heart in the best of both worlds. Happy reading and baking!!
Melody, you mean I’m not the only one who does that? Whew! What’s your favorite thing to boil and stir? I’m always on the hunt for fun new recipes.