We are having some crazy weather here in West Virginia, one day it is in the 90’s and the next day it is 60 degrees. We have not had any rain in over a month. Everything is so dry that the leaves are not even changing color they are just drying up and falling off the trees. I pray we do not have any fires break out. Everything would go up in smoke. Momma Said, “Please listen to Smokey Bear and don’t start a wild fire!”
This is the third year in a row that it has been dry like this and the trees haven’t had a chance to show off their beautiful colors. We just had the Mountain State Forest Festival last week and one of the big draws of the festival is the beautiful fall colors in the mountains of West Virginia. It is still a great festival but it loses some of the appeal by not having the colors.
It is the season for pumpkin pies, apple butter and apple cider. I know you can make this stuff anytime of the year but it tastes best in the fall. A lot of the church groups around will be making apple butter to sell and it is delicious on a hot biscuit. Mom used to eat onion and apple butter sandwiches, YUCK. Momma Said, “To each his own.”
The church groups usually make their apple butter in big copper pots and make gallons at a time. You can also make smaller batches in the crock pot. It is an acquired taste for some people but I say you can’t beat a butter biscuit covered in apple butter.
CROCK POT APPLE BUTTER
Ingredients
- 5 1/2 pounds apples – peeled, cored and finely chopped
- 4 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Add all ingredients to list
Directions
- Place the apples in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour the mixture over the apples in the slow cooker and mix well.
- Cover and cook on high 1 hour.
- Reduce heat to low and cook 9 to 11 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown.
- Uncover and continue cooking on low 1 hour. Stir with a whisk, if desired, to increase smoothness.
- Spoon the mixture into sterile containers, cover and refrigerate or freeze.