8 medium apples*
1 Bartlett pear, optional
1/4 cup water or apple juice**
3 to 4 tbsp. sugar (or equivalent sweetener)**
1 tsp. cinnamon
Applesauce makes a wonderful accompaniment to potato latkas, or is a simple, delicious dessert on its own. My Baba Masha always added a ripe pear. Her applesauce was the best!
Peel and core the apples and pear. Cut them into chunks. Combine all ingredients (except artificial sweetener, if using) in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook partially covered for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender.
* If you have a food mill, cook apples without peeling. Wash well before cooking and discard stems. After cooking, put mixture through a food mill. Applesauce will be rosy pink.
** If using apple juice, use minimum amount of sugar or sweetener. If you want the apples to keep their shape, add sugar after cooking, not before. If using sweetener, add after cooking.
To microwave, cook covered on HIGH power for 6 to 8 minutes, or until tender. Stir once or twice during cooking.
Break up applesauce with a spoon, or serve it chunky.
Yield: 6 servings. Freezes well.
124 calories per serving, 0.8 g fat (0.1 g saturated), 0 mg cholesterol, <1 g protein, 32 g carbohydrate, 2 mg sodium, 166 mg potassium, trace iron, 5 g fiber, 14 mg calcium.