(you know, the crock pot, why they thought they had to rename it, I will never know). Well, I wanted to go do it right then. You know how that is, you do not want to wait for anybody, anytime or anything but I had no apples. The great thing was she told me about this really cute farm (if a farm could really be called cute, that is), it's up in Paradise, CA. Yes it is a real town and has it ever grown since I was a teen, I guess so as it's almost 50 years, any who, this place is the real deal. We found it off Pentz Rd. You drive in the driveway and it's a little one lane road which goes beside a rock house. There is parking in the front yard which we decide to take because we have never been there before. We start walking down the one lane and can see a barn which is open at this end. There are shelves, and boxes and boxes of apples. Many, many kinds. Also they are selling Olive Oil that is local and some sauces. I pick up the Olive Oil and get black berry sauce. We are moseying (hey, we are on a farm) over where one lady is giving slices of apples to try. Jim and I do so and after the granny smith, red delicious, she gives us gala.....wow that was real good. We buy half a bushel, they smell wonderful. Off we go with our loot and head for home. Then Saturday morning I get up slice apples, slice apples, and then slice apples. I made one big apple pie with a crumb topping, 5 small pies. I had no more pie plates so just used the crust. Rolled out the dough in a circle, added the apples in center with sugar and spices on and lapped the dough around them in a circle. Hey, it worked fine. I think that is how I am going to make them from now on. Before all of this I put about 15 apples, sliced in the crock pot and 11 or so hours later I had apple butter
. I couldn't finish the apple butter on Sat as our electricity went out so just halted the crock pot and started it up again on Sunday Morning. Let me tell you it is wonderful. Here is all you do.......Peel and slice about 15 apples, add to crock pot. Mix 3 to 4 cups of sugar (depending on apple sweetness), 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir. Put crock pot on high for 1 hour, then stir and put on low for 11 to 12 hours. Then the last hour leave lid off and stir with wire wisk to mash up apples. I used a potato masher. It will have become dark and thick and that is just what you want. Put in sterilized jars, leave 1/2 an inch from top, place lids on and waalaa your done. Apple butter is great over vanilla ice cream, add to pancake mix (about 1/2 cup) serve with pork chops. Just use it like you would jam. Believe me you will think of things yourself, it's delicious. Tootles
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