An Apple a Day: Applesauce and Apple-Berry Pie

Kristie, this week’s “Featured Fridays” blogger, can be found over at Kristie’s Notes

An Apple a Day: Applesauce and Apple-Berry Pie

I thought it might be fun to do lessons about apples with my kiddos, so they could have fun and experiment with apples this fall.

My original goal was to do something with apples every day of the week for an entire week (the reason for the title ‘An Apple a Day’), then move on to another topic…but with busy lives and unforeseen circumstances arising, it didn’t exactly turn out to be ‘an apple a day’. That just meant we could spread out the fun a little more!

After an exciting trip to the apple orchard and picking a whole peck of apples, I thought it would be fun to teach the kids how to make some yummy treats from their apples!

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Before starting some applesauce, I reminded the kids of a book that was read to them at the library’s Story Time called “Applesauce Season” by Eden Ross Lipson. It was a great book to read before making applesauce and even has a recipe in the back!

Applesauce

Blake could not wait to help stir the apples once we got them cleaned and cut.

I thought it was neat watching the apples cooked down.

Once the apples were mostly mushy, the kids had a blast cranking them through the food mill!

Then it was time for the cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. We added and taste-tested until it was perfect. As you can see from their faces, we had more cinnamon and sugar to add at that point.

The finished applesauce! I canned it to preserve it, but it’s also great frozen!

Apple-Berry Pie

This pie is my husband’s favorite, so whenever I make a pie, I always make this one! (I am by no means a professional pie maker as you will see…)

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After I had the apples all cut and mixed in with the blackberries, the kids helped with the crust by cutting in the shortening.

Then it was time to mix up the pie crust dough and roll it out. (Here the kids are actually rolling out the extra dough after the pie was all made.)

This is what the inside of the pie looked like before the top crust went on and it was baked….looking yummy already!

The finished pie and the little cinnamon sugar rolls the kids and I made from the leftover crust dough. (The pie was a little runny since it was still warm…I had a little guy who could not wait to try the pie he made!)

Here’s the Apple-Berry Pie recipe we used:

Ingredients:.

1 pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons tapioca
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups fresh blackberries
2 cups apples – peeled, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out one crust, and place in a 9 inch pie plate. Roll out top crust, and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, tapioca, and cinnamon. Add blackberries and apple slices. Toss gently to coat without mashing the berries. Let stand for 20 minutes.
Spoon filling into pastry lined pan. Dot with butter. Moisten the edge of the pastry with water. Cover with top crust; trim and crimp edge. Cut a few slits in the top to allow steam to escape during baking. Cover edge with foil to prevent over-browning.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking for 20 to 25 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

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Please be sure to stop back over the next two weeks for more fun with apples including some science experiments, crafts and activities!.

Today’s “Featured Fridays” post, “An Apple a Day: Apple Sauce and Apple-Berry Pie”, was written by Kristie, blog author of Kristie’s Notes.

Kristie is a Stay at Home Mommy to two beautiful children. She loves veggie gardening, baking crafts and spending time with her precious family.