Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The best gifts are FOOD!



On a particularly "meh" (and by that, I
mean blah, boring and bland) day, I was
surprised by a friend with a jar of
homemade apple butter. Suddenly,
my "meh" day turned into a "yeah"
day. Isn't it amazing how much one
thoughtful gesture can spin you around?
So here's a shout out to Marlene for
being so darn nice! Thank YOU!


Personally, I think food gifts are the best gifts. They don't cost much
besides effort and time, they don't take up space or require batteries,
they generally match whatever you're wearing and usually they give
you a new recipe to add to your own box. Win win win!

Now since Marlene shared this wonderfully easy and delicious recipe
with me, and I got to taste it and can confirm it's yumminess,
I must now pass it along to you. I can also confirm this does
make a wonderful gift sure to lift the spirits of the recipient!

Apple Butter:


5 1/2 pounds peeled and sliced apples (Marlene used Granny Smiths)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tspns ground cinnamon (she used a bit more)
1/4 tspn ground cloves
1/4 tspn salt


Place the apples in a crock pot. Mix the sugars, cinnamon, cloves and
salt in a medium bowl. Pour the mixture over the apples and mix well.
Cover and cook on high for one hour. Reduce heat to low and cook for
several (8-10) more hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick and
dark brown. Uncover and cook for another hour. Whisk for added
smoothness. Spoon into sterile jam jars and refrigerate or freeze. Give to
anyone who needs a pick me up!




Jenn McKinlay
SPRINKLE WITH MURDER
March 2010

aka Lucy Lawrence
STUCK ON MURDER
Sept 2009

http://www.jennmckinlay.com/

9 comments:

  1. Sounds wonderful! And what a thoughtful friend.

    Elizabeth/Riley
    Mystery Writing is Murder

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  2. What perfect timing for such a delicious apple recipe! The apples are great this year, too--my husband picked a huge bag at our local orchard. Thanks, Jenn ~

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  3. I bought some apple butter a couple of weeks ago. It tastes just like fall. I'd forgotten how good it is!

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  4. Homemade apple butter. What a treat. What a sweet friend. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. I love apple butter on toast. I've never made it myself, though. I think I need to head to the farmer's market to get some apples to make this. Yum!

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  6. What a wonderful recipe, and it matches what I'm wearing! Lol! You always crack me up--and lift me up. Yes, YOU are the one who picked me up today, Jenn. Thanks. :-)

    Cheers,
    ~Cleo
    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    "Where coffee and crime are always brewing..."
    Cleo Coyle on Twitter

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  7. Mmm.... delicious! And what a neat story about how thoughtful gestures can pick us up. Thanks!

    Julie

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  8. Thanks so much for the apple butter recipe. I have a half bushel of apples waiting to be made into something special and this will be it!

    Kathy

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  9. Yummy, yummy! Yup, food is always a great gift. My chef husband is hoping to find the time to make some mango hot sauce to give out as Christmas presents this year. Hope he remembers to save some for us, though...

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