Healthy Apple Butter

Again, tonight's post will have no pics.  Maybe I'll put some of this up later, but for now, it has none.  Instead of sitting and creating stuff, I sat and watched the film Hungry for Change with my mom.  The message is incredible, as is the information.  If you haven't watched it,  you have until tomorrow evening to watch it free online.  It is life changing.  DO IT! 

Anyways, here is a healthier apple butter recipe.  Something that is just super tasty, a better alternative than heavily laden jams and jellies, and just all out delicious.  Usually, you put in tons and tons of sugar.  Here, I will be blending up a little dates to add to the mixture.  It adds the sweetness without the processed white stuff.

Ingredients:

11-12 apples (any kind of your choice will do) peeled, cored, and diced
12 Medjool dates, pitted and soaked in water
Juice of 1 lemon
Apple Pie Spice blend

Directions:

1.  Put the diced apples into a large pot.  Add the lemon juice and toss together.
2.  Take the pitted dates and the soaking water and add to a blender.  Blend until smooth.
3.  Add the dates to the apples, and mix together.
4.  Turn on medium heat. 
5.  Continue cooking until the apples are turning into mush.  Add in as much of the Apple Pie Spice as you would like.  I like a lot because I like the bold spices, but mix in to your taste.
6.  Turn heat down to low and let simmer for at least one hour, continuing to stir so the mixture doesn't burn.
7.  Put some in a saucer or on some good whole wheat bread and chow down.

While still hot, canning them is a great way to save them.  There are several ways to can, but I use a cheap method that my mom and mamaw taught me.  Boil a big thing of water.  In a separate smaller kettle, boil the lids and seals.  Sit your glass cans in the sink.  Pour the water both around and inside the cans when it is nearing time to can.  Turn off the kettle with the lids and seals, but keep them on the stove.  Empty the water out and quickly fill with the hot apple butter (it is CRUCIAL that it is still hot).  Take the hot leads and seals and screw them on quickly.  You will need a towel during this part so as not to burn the crap out of your hands.  Let the cans sit, and you can hear the pop as the cans seal.  It is a neat trick.  Quick, easy, and pressure cooker.