Mimi's Applesauce

Description
From the sneaky kitchen: a Karen Danielson recipe

Serving Ideas: Serve warm or chilled, however you prefer. It's delicious served warm, right off the stove, spooned on top of a bowl of vanilla ice cream or on frozen yogurt!!


 * For variations, hints and more serving ideas, see http://sneakykitchen.com/Recipes/mimis_applesauce.htm

Ingredients

 * 6 large apples, peeled and cored
 * 3 tbsp water
 * 1 tsp ground cinnamon
 * ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
 * 1 cup sugar, white granulated
 * 1 can whole cranberry sauce (optional)

Stove top

 * 1) Slice apples into heavy sauce pan or Dutch oven.
 * 2) Add the 3 tablespoons of water and cook, covered, over medium-high heat until apples are soft and mushy.
 * 3) Stir frequently to make sure apples don't stick to bottom of pan and scorch.
 * 4) Add more water if apples seem dry and do not seem to be releasing a lot of juice while cooking.
 * 5) When apples are done, remove from heat and mash with a potato masher for chunky sauce, or mix with hand-held immersion blender if a smoother sauce is desired.
 * 6) Add sugar and spices and return to heat.
 * 7) Cook, uncovered, on simmer, until sugar is dissolved.

Microwave

 * 1) Slice apples into micro-safe cooking dish (not plastic, please).
 * 2) Add 3 tablespoons of water and microwave on high, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and mushy.
 * 3) Add more water if apples seem dry and are not releasing a lot of juice while cooking.
 * 4) When apples are done, remove from microwave and mash with potato masher for chunky sauce, or mix with hand-held immersion blender if a smoother sauce is desired.
 * 5) Add sugar and spices and return to microwave.
 * 6) Cook covered, on high, for 1 or 2 more minutes or until Sugar is dissolved.

Note

 * If using cranberry sauce, add with the sugar.