Applesauce

Another summery sunny day here, as autumn approaches.

I had anticipated no further large canning projects this season, with the exception of applesauce. Ontario Gala apples went on sale at the grocery store this week, so we bought a half bushel. This morning we washed them, removed the stems and blossom ends, quartered them, and partially cooked them in the electric roasting pan with 3 cups of apple juice.

After lunch Attila brought out the tomato mill, which is much to heavy for me to lift these days. He got it all set up, brought in the softened and cooled apples, and we set to work running them through the mill. The resulting applesauce was quite thick, too thick to can, so I added two litres of apple juice to thin it a bit. The thick applesauce was so difficult to stir that I had to use two hands on the wooden spoon, and when I was done my lead hand went into spasms. That applesauce was thick!

This evening I canned 15 500-ml jars of applesauce.

It isn’t all that much cheaper than commercial applesauce, but we prefer it, as there are advantages. One is that the applesauce is not stored in plastic, where the commercially canned applesauce that is reasonably priced is only available in plastic containers. Another is that there is no waste packaging to go into the blue box, the jars and rings are reused for canning, the used lids for dry goods etc. The third is that we know exactly how are applesauce is made.

But as is typical with us, we found a ½ bushel of red peppers for $8, and could not resist it. We had some raw with our breakfast, they are delicious. The plan for tomorrow is another big canning project, red pepper relish.

Our homemade meals are usually very plain fare, legumes, limited meat, seafood, dairy, grains, seeds, nuts. These foods are very bland without sodium, so we use a lot of low sodium homemade condiments to liven up our meals. This is where canning really makes a difference for us, pickles, relishes, sauces, juices, etc. I think the red pepper relish will be very much enjoyed this winter.

While I’ve spent the evening canning applesauce, Attila has been out in the garden. The predicted low temperature for tonight is 4C, and there is a frost warning, so he is covering all the frost sensitive plants in the garden with plastic sheets. Fingers crossed that our tender plants make it through the night.

Worldly

Weather

14°C
Date: 8:00 PM EDT Friday 19 September 2025
Condition: Mainly Clear
Pressure: 102.2 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: 14.0°C
Dew point: 8.9°C
Humidity: 71%
Wind: NE 5 km/h
Visibility: 24 km

Quote

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”
Aldous Huxley
1894 – 1963

I love silence, perhaps more so because I cannot play an instrument, nor can I sing. Silence is a song I can sing.
I love music too, but I can only hear from afar, it belongs to others, and is a wonderful place to visit them.