Apple Pie Filling

Here's the recipe for apple pie filling my brother and I canned this summer. We used Wolf River apples from a tree that our Father had planted in the Seventies. My brother had punned the tree in the Spring so the apples were huge. Of course we had to test out the filling and make an apple pie as shown in the picture. Tasted great but wasn't pleased with how the pie looked.


Apple Pie Filling

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons lemon juice
5 1/2 to 6 pounds tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced.

In large saucepan blend first 4 ingredients and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in 10 cups water; cook and stir till thickened and bubbly. Add lemon juice. Pack apples into hot jars, leaving 1-inch head space. Fill with hot syrup leaving 1/2-inch head space. (Use spatula to help distribute syrup). Adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath (pints) 15 minutes; (quarts) 20 minutes. Makes 6 quarts.

Before Serving: Prepare pastry for a 2-crust 8-or 9-inch pie. Line pie plate with pastry; add 1 quart apple pie filling. Adjust top crust, cutting slits for escape of steam; seal. Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.

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1.02.28

Victory Garden

This summer I felt as though I was living in the Forties by planting a Victory Garden, purchasing a pressure canner, and wearing my hair in Victory Rolls for the play Evita. My brother and I planted a Victory Garden in June with tomatoes, green beans, October beans, peas, banana peppers, hot peppers, squash, and potatoes. We froze the squash in quart bags as they were ready and made squash casseroles. Couldn't get to the green beans quick enough to process but still managed to can 48 quarts. We also  made and canned apple sauce, apple butter, and apple pie filling. The garden and canning was a great deal of work but the taste of food you have grown is worth the time and effort.

Victory Garden in early Spring with potatoes and tomatoes growing

Canned goods from Victory garden and apple trees

 

Harvesting potatoes and preparing garden for next season

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1.02.28