In preparation for my late summer/autumn harvest of apples - tell me what to do with them all

[JoshandJamie]

Last year I had so many apples that I ended up chucking them out. I made loads of spiced apple chutney that was nice and I parcooked and froze loads of others which I then used in pies. (noteL I have some cookers and lots of eaters)

But I want to be able to make more bottled things that have a long shelf life. Apple sauce seems an obvious thing to make but it doesn't last - or at least not the recipes I've seen.

So what else can i do with apples? Anyone got any recipes? I've been collecting jars all year and am ready to go - just need to know what to make.

thanks in advance

Can you not store them?

I have thought about that but need to find some kind of crates for them. Would a farmer's market have some do you think? Even so, I'd still like to turn a good chunk of them into something that I can bottle (possibly even sell!)

www.recipezaar.com/recipes/apples one of the better recipe websites.. I've not made it before but Apple Butter makes a nice gift and can be canned.

I sometimes cook pork roast or chops with apples.

Apple crisps?

cinnamon apple jam

barter them on mumsnet?

Farmers market would have them.

If you live anywhere near SW London/Surrey I know an excellent source

Apple rings are nice.

Or you can make apple crumble/apple pie and freeze it. Stewed apple will keep if you bottle it while hot: just heat the peeled sliced apples with a tiny bit of water/sugar to boiling point, then take off heat. You can bottle it, or freeze it in bags.

Supermarkets chuck out those cardboard sheets with indentations used to keep apples apart while they're in storage.

Apple cake made with apple puree might freeze?

I used to make apple suace ice lollies for my two when they were younger - i know it sounds horrid but they loved them..

Wrap them in newspaper and store them somewhere cool

Those are all fab ideas - am loving the sound of cinnamon apple jam! Don't suppose you have a recipe for it??

Noodle, I live in Berkshire and go into London reasonably often and DH works in Camberley so please share your source

I haven't made it before but this seems a simple enough recipe.. not sure about the pectin bit though. will have another look somewhere for you.

Cinnamon Apple Jam

2 cups water
3 lbs tart apples, cored,peeled and chopped
7 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 bottle liquid pectin

Not the one? See other Apple Jam Recipes
< 30 mins Jams & Preserves
Northeastern U.S. Jams & Preserves
Apples Jams & Preserves
Fall Jams & Preserves
Vegan Jams & Preserves
In a blender combine water and apples and puree.
You will need to do this in batches.
Measure 5 cups of the puree and pour into a large stainless or enamel pot.
Add the sugar, spices and lemon juice.
Place on high heat, stirring constantly until a full boil is reached.
Boil hard for 1 minute.
Remove from heat, stir in pectin, skim off foam and ladle into jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space.
Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes at altitudes up to 1000 feet.
Adjust times for higher levels.

Thanks for that Daemara - I've know idea where you would buy pectin from?? I also did a search and found some recipes for apple and pear jam and apple and blackberry jam - so will have a go.

I made some apple chutney, kitchen stank all day but the result was fab. Have a look in your recipe books or search the internet, otherwise will type out my recipe later if you're interested.
Also bumping because we always have tons of apples and would like some new ideas (tho you just can't beat a good apple crumble!)

lilo - my spiced apple chutney recipe was from Nigella's how to be a domestic goddess - and it was fab

Pectin - You can buy Jam Sugar, which I am sure contains sugar and pectin.

Surpless Apples - if you are near Camberley, then I'll consider taking some apples off your hands, should you end up with more than you can use. Baby Apple Sauce may come in handy.

Apple sauce.....can' help thinking about that movie with Diane Keaton....... why not set up a stall at your local farmer's market?

I second the vote for apple chutney the first time I made apple & ginger and the second time cinnamon & apple - we preferred it without the ginger.

You could make sorbet

you can also simply steam grated or cut apple and freeze in bags to use later as follows:

• Crumble base (add any other flavour/fruit later
• base for stuffing/topping pancakes (with cinamon/honey/yogurt or else)
• to mix with red cabbage or base for turkey stuffing xmas time
• to fill a "tarte" and top with goats chese and rosemary
• to mix with parsnip soup/puree
• to make tarte tatin

don't forget to drain a little after defrosting where apllies

sobet ideas

• apple lemon (rind as well) basil -apple cinamon & cream (that's ice cream then) -apple vodka (you can also make apple vodka jello/great ice breaker in parties)
• apple candied ginger

or simply apple and then top with flavoured syrup according to inspiration

You can store them if they are the right kind. Between sheets of paper in boxes, somewhere cool and dark. They should keep nicely until Christmas. After that they will probably go wrinkly but still OK for cooking.

But it does depend on the make.

Thank you - all brilliant ideas. Was also told that apparently there is an apple and walnut jam in Waitrose - so might go check it out and then try make some of my own, because besides all the apples, I also have a walnut tree that last year yielded over 7000 walnuts....

buy a juicer, you can make loads of juice and will need about 6 at a time.

You can peel core and slice them, dip them in salt water and the freeze on baking sheets. When frozen transfer to bags. They can then be used as and when you want through the winter. The salt water stops them from browning but you don't taste the salt at all. Tis a bit fiddly but well worth the effort.

We have a similar problem as have 50 or so apple trees!! We have one of those old apple store things with wooden drawers and keep them in an unheated room; also wrapped in newspaper in boxes. We find they keep better frozen though as the ones we don't manage to freeze end up looking wrinkly and soft so can only be used for cooking. We also have a big apple press but it's a bit of a pain to use and clean so unless you have masses of energy and time I wouldn't bother!

Invest in a cider press. Either bottle it as apple juice, or ferment it into wine or cider.

We have an orchard too but none of the apples keep very well so I freeze a huge amount of 'apple puree' that we then use in pies, crumbles, sauce etc for the rest of the year.

You can also make dried apple rings to use as Christmas decorations. (Core, slice into rings, thread onto a beanstick - alternate red & green if possible - and dry over the aga or somewhere warm).