iStock.com/bhofack2
iStock.com/bhofack2

McIntosh, Fuji, Gala, Braeburn…we are lucky to have so many apple varieties literally at our fingertips! One fun way to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and the fall season as a family is to go apple-picking at a local farm and turn your favorites into tasty creations to ring in the New Year. (Find a farm near you, and brush up on apple varieties with this visual guide.)

In addition to dipping apples in honey, it’s traditional to make other kinds of sweet dishes employing apples, honey or both. Choose your favorite apples from your picking excursion and try this easy applesauce recipe.

Easy Applesauce

Ingredients:

12 apples of your choice, peeled or unpeeled
Brown sugar, white sugar or honey, to taste
Cinnamon, to taste
Nutmeg, to taste
Red Hots cinnamon candies, optional (My grandmother always added these to her applesauce, which sweetened it, gave it cinnamon flavor and helped create a wonderful shade of pink!)

Directions:

Cut apples into quarters and place the pieces in a pot with a thin layer of water on the bottom (so the apples won’t burn). Add sugar or honey and spices. Cover and cook on low heat, stirring frequently, until apples are very soft and mushy. For a smoother variety, strain, mash with a potato masher or run through a food mill. Then enjoy warm or cold!