Hungree Girl: Criss Cross Apple Sauce

Fall is my FAVORITE season. If it was single and liked dogs, I'd marry it. It's not just one thing about fall either, it's everything. It's the crisp air, the sound of crunching leaves, the colors, and obviously the autumn produce, duh. The moment the air turns from hot and sticky to crisp, one thing is on my mind: apples. I am an apple fanatic. I've literally been eating since I came out of the womb. I don't have prejudice either, I appreciate them ALL. Whether you're a simply sweet Red Delicious, a tart McIntosh, a tangy juicy Honeycrisp, or a sharp Granny Smith, get AT ME, because I love you all and will devour you in an equally ravenous fashion. Fall is prime time for apples, and while you can go to the grocery store and get some nice ones, why not go and pick your own? I'm probably the only person on the planet who likes apple picking as much as 7 year olds. I go every single year, always wear a plaid shirt (an absolute must), eat myself into an apple coma, and pick pound after pound and bundle after bundle of fall's most precious treasures. While I pick, my mind is swirling with what to do with my sacred new cargo. SO many apples, so many recipes, so many decisions. Well, welcome to part one of what's about to be apple mania (sorry Gwenyth Paltrow's daughter I'm not talking about your birthday), because I have big plans for these babies and big plans for all of you. First, we keep it simple with some homemade apple sauce that makes Mott's look like cat food. If it really is true that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" well then I will never have to go to the doctor, and you won't either because I ate enough apples for you too.

Apple Sauce

Ingredients
10 apples, I used McIntosh
1/2 cup water
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbs honey
1 tbs grated lemon zest

Recipe: Peel, core, and cut your apples. In a large skillet, combine the apples, water, cinnamon, honey, and zest. Mix well, turn the heat on medium high, and cover. Cook for about 25-30 minutes, stirring every so often until the apples are mushy and form into the desired consistency. For fine texture, puree, for chunky, mash softly. Let cool a little, and eat warm with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
so it starts with these...