I finished making applesauce a week or so ago. It was a lot of work. It always is. And it may not seem like it’s worth it. Which is why my sister teased, “You know, Shan, they sell applesauce in the store.” Hahaha. She’s hilarious. (Actually, she totally is.)
But for all that they sell applesauce in the store, I still think it’s worth it to make my own. Here’s why.
1. It tastes better. I like chunky applesauce, and when I first started visiting Eric’s family, I was introduced to his Grandma Hogue’s homemade applesauce. And it is unbelievably good. As in, ridiculously good. It’s so simple: apples, sugar, salt, lemon juice, and cinnamon. That’s it. But man, it is just one of my favorite things. So when I found the recipe in my mother-in-law’s recipe box, I quickly scribbled it down. I’ve been making and canning that yumminess every since. Because never have I ever found a store-bought applesauce that compares. Not even close.
2. It’s an heirloom. Grandma Hogue passed away a couple of years ago now. But I still make her applesauce. I don’t know where she got the recipe. Maybe her mother? She made it every year, and that’s what they always took to potlucks, even after she couldn’t see or hear very well. That recipe is a part of them. So every time I start with Ginger Gold apples (Grandpa’s favorite) or open another jar of her sauce, it’s like having them at the table again. That makes me happy.
3. It’s valuable. Canning is an old-fashioned thing that’s coming back into favor. It’s cool to can. But there’s nothing special in the process or even the product. In fact, the details of canning are not hard, but they don’t allow for much wiggle room (get it wrong and things rot…not good eats). And as my sister pointed out, I could buy a jar of applesauce pretty easily and cheaply.
But on the other hand, we live next door to an orchard. And with a little work and a lot of time, I can create and preserve something that will last all year. It’s a way to respect our finances, the long hours my husband works on behalf of our family, the local business next door, and our own property. We joke sometimes about how we’re homesteading, but the truth is, whether I ever own farm animals or manage to grow and preserve a gigantic garden, I can make applesauce. I can do that much. And the stacks of jars on the shelf make for a satisfying and valuable return on the investment of my time and a few hundred apples.
So for as long as I can, I will make my own applesauce. Oh, and I’m always happy to share.
