Cinnamonny Goodness: Easy Applesauce IRL

Mmm... Nothing says fall like warm apple-filled treats.

Applesauce is easy to make and worth the extra effort that you'd exert instead of opening a premade jar.



Really, this isn't fixing the global economy. It's simply based on the ancient process of boiling fruit in a little sugar-water. So if you're new to the kitchen try this recipe, and impress your mates. The nice thing is that if you boil it on low enough heat you have a few minutes of lee-way for gaming.

What you need:
A bunch of Apples (8-10).
Cinnamon. Use about 1-1/2 tablespoons ground if you like it nice and cinnamonny.
1/2 to 1 cup of Sugar. You can use 1/2 brown and half white; I like to use 1/2 cup of brown sugar, packed.
1 cup of Water
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2-3 squirts of lemon juice (fresh or the stuff sitting in the fridge).

Step 1. Peel, core, and quartered your apples. I like to mix the apples in sauces and pie recipes. Try a mix of 2 Golden Delicious, 2 Granny Smith, 2 Fuji, and 2 Gala.)

Step 2. Place your apple slices in a large pot.

Step 3. Squirt with the lemon juice. This just helps stop the apples from browning, and can bring out the flavor of the apples.

Step 4. Add the water, cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Stir to coat.

Step 5. Bring to boil. Lower the heat and let the mix simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Step 6. Remove from heat. Mash with potato masher or large spoon.

Ready to serve, either hot or chilled.

Eat some now, and freeze some for later! :)

Variations: Try with a little vanilla bean extract (about 1/2 teaspoon cooked in during step 4). Also try swapping out the gala apples with a few pears. Mmmm!

Sanguinar's Baked Beans

Looking for a way to spice up your baked beans? Sanguinar walks you through one delicious baked bean dish that moves the beans from the side to the main course. Check it out! :)

The prep time will take about 5-10 minutes, depending on how quickly you work.

What you need:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
Pinch each of kosher salt and black pepper
3 large cloves garlic, chopped
8 ounces hot Italian sausage, removed from casing
2 cans (28 ounces each) baked beans, preferably Bush's
3/4 cup Mutha Sauce. This sauce is optional. I sometimes skip it, but it is pretty good.

1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and peppers and cook til soft adding a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

2. Crumble sausage into the veggies and cook, chopping to break the meat into small pieces. Cook until it is no longer pink. Drain off some of the bean liquid in each can so that it's at the same height as the beans; then mix the contents of both cans into the cooked veggies and sausage.

3. Turn down the heat down to medium-low and add all the rest of the ingredients. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve immediately, or cool and reheat before serving (lettin' the flavors blend a while never hurts).