homemade apple butter

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

butter2

If you still haven’t got a hostess gift for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving gatherings or if you don’t know what to do with your leftover apple cider that was on sale these last few days, I suggest making apple butter.

While the apples are turning into autumn awesomeness on the stove, you’ll have plenty of time to decorate, prep food,… for the upcoming feast.

I also found these adorable apple butter tags over at Money Saving Mom.

Homemade Apple Cider Butter by Baking Bites

6 large apples peeled and cut into large pieces
4 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar

Combine apples and apple cider in a stockpot or a dutch oven. Cider should almost cover the apples. Bring to a boil and cook until apples are very tender. Use an immersion blender (or work in small batches in a blender/food processor) to puree the apples until mixture is very smooth. Add sugar to the apple puree in the stockpot and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to medium and cook until mixture has thickened and reduced by 40-50%.

The apple butter will bubble thickly and splatter as it reduces, so I recommend keeping a splatter screen on top of your pot to minimize the cleanup. The butter should be thicker than most jams, with an almost honey-like quality to it when it is finished.
Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Makes about 3 cups.
Recipe can be doubled or tripled or larger batches.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Sara

with the last red berries

Thursday, November 13, 2014

fleur

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.
- Clyde Watson

Yesterday, for the first time this autumn, I was muttering and grumping under my breath as I was leaving my house. The cold came unexpectedly. I should have brought my gloves with me…

During the cold months we easily get lost in the darkness around us.
It is still dark when we leave our home in the mornings and it is dark when we return.
Christmas ads are already playing on the television but secretly we are thinking “bah humbug”.
Instead of choosing the seasonally bright orange tangerines, we indulge in (Christmas) chocolate.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Thanksgiving is around the corner. What better way to brighten up this gloomy month than by surrounding yourself with bright orange hues, candle lights and your loved ones around a cozy table!

I believe the floral arrangement in the picture above would look lovely on any Thanksgiving table. Don’t you think?

Love,
Sara

october gave a party

Friday, November 7, 2014

picnic3 Collage1 picnic2

October gave a party,
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand. 

The most delicious pizza and a homemade apple galette?Yes, please!

Love,
Sara
Come a little bit closer, hear what I have to say. Just like children sleepin', we could dream this night away.
Harvest moon - Neil Young

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