Seriously, it is SO much better to make your own and if you’re cooking anyway, just add one more pan. I was making some pork cutlets the other night for dinner and while they were cooking in the oven I decided to make some stewed apples to accompany them. I peeled a couple of apples because there are only two of us at our table (you’d probably want to make enough for everyone).
I don’t bother cutting the apple apart and taking out the core. I might be the Orgasmic Chef but I don’t overwork myself. I just peel the apple and then cut a big slab off each side and then trim the ends and toss the core away. I might miss a teensy bit of apple around the core but hey, that’s the part that’s going to make me fat, so we’ll leave that out. I slice the apple and put it in a saucepan with a little water and cook on medium until the apples are soft.
Don’t make the mistake that I did in my early years of cooking and add sugar at the beginning. The apples will take FOREVER to get soft if you do. Cook just the apple and some water and a bit of lemon juice til the apple is cooked and then add the other ingredients.
I think apples with pork are a match made in heaven. I like the apples to be cooked but still in little chunks so it’s got more body on the plate and in my mouth. If you want to give it a bit more zip you could soak some golden raisins in brandy and add those to the apples.
One of the reasons I love cooking so much is because I decide how much sugar, salt, spices and ingredients that go into my food. I also love that my food that isn’t filled with preservatives. If you like your apples with more liquid or you like them sweeter or not so sweet or you want more cinnamon – you decide. Just keep tasting until it’s right for you.
This is a sauce made out of apples but I wouldn’t call it real applesauce like you get in the jar. It’s thicker and chunkier but it’s great as an accompaniment to pork. One day I’ll post about preserving applesauce. It’s SO simple and easy to make.
- 6 apples
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup sugar
- pinch salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- Peel and slice the apples and place in a saucepan with the water and lemon juice. Cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes until soft. Keep checking to make sure you don't run out of water in the apples. If you get low, just add more water.
- When the apples are soft and the water has cooked down, add the sugar, salt and cinnamon and stir to combine.
- Rough the apples up with a fork or put through a food mill or use a hand held blender and serve.