Bottled Apples

Here we go again, Apples, Apples, and more Apples!

My favorite way to preserve apples is to just bottle them as plain old apple slices! It's not as much work as applesauce and it's more versatile.

Here's how I do it...

1. Place bottles in dishwasher and run. You'll need to get your hot water bath canner about half full and on to boil, a large stock pot about half full on to boil, and a large pot full of water and on to boil. I also put my lids in a small pan and put on low to heat up the seals.

2. Take your favorite apples and peel, slice and core them. I like to use my handy, dandy, apple peeler, corer, slicer! I love this thing. Probably more than usual, because there was a time when I did this the old fashioned way! Not anymore, thanks to my wonderful hubby who researched and found me a pretty good one!! Anyway....

3. Place in bowl of water to keep from browning. You can put in some fruit fresh, but then you would have to rinse before the next step. I just use plain old water.

4. When I think I have enough apples for a load, I put them in the stock pot and bring to a boil for 5 minutes to blanche them.

5. I place the hot apples in the hot jars (work with 1 or 2 jars at a time) to the bend in the jar. Then I add 1/4 cup sugar (if you like sweeter, you can put 1/2 cup). Then I use the boiling water from the last pot and fill the jar to the bottom of the threads. Use a plastic canning knife to go down the sides of the jar to release air bubbles and dissolve sugar. Add more water to bottom of threads if necessary.

6. Wipe rim with clean, wet rag. Place softened lid on jar and screw on band, snug but don't over tighten. Place in elevated rack of canner.

7. Repeat until you have enough for a canner load. Lower rack, make sure you have about an inch of water over the top of the jars, and process for 30 minutes.

8. Let cool 12 to 24 hours, then wipe jars clean, date and put away.

We like to eat these right out of the jars, with a little bit of cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top!!

You can also use them to make apple crisp or apple pie! I guess that will be my cue, for another post!!