Monday, October 10, 2011

Apple Butter and Tattler Lids

Apple season down here means apples are shipped in from more northerly places so I usually do not do any apple kind of things. Pears are what we have down here and you can really substitute them for apples in most things. I do make a batch of apple butter every year though,which you can make with pears if you need to but I will usually splurge and buy some  nice organic apples. Besides,with the heatwave and drought, mostly the drought because pears can take the heat, we had no pears this year. Usually we are pear poor down here! Seriously, folks will abandon buckets of them on your doorsteps!
So, I made a batch of apple butter in the crock pot. I love the ole crock pot,it is the busy or lazy persons friend! I am both!

I also tried out the Tattler Lids for the first time. I had a perfect success with them! I like that they are BPA free and reusable!

The cost of  regular lids just keep going up so I figure they will pay for them selves in no time. The BPA thing is getting to be such an issue I suspect Ball and the rest will soon be making their lids BPA free but that will probably be another excuse for them to raise the price! They are already advertising their freezer containers as BPA free. I don't figure I will ever collect up enough of the Tattler Lids to do all my canning unless the company has  something like a thousand lid giveaway and I am lucky enough to win but still....I think I will just get a box here and there and who knows..like my jars I may get a closet full eventually! Maybe I will ask for Tattler Lids as Christmas gifts! The lids have a slightly different way to do them so read the instructions..no big deal, it just tells you when and how to tighten them. I like them and if you haven't tried them I do recommend them. The Tattler folks did not give me anything to say that, although if any of them are reading I would be happy to have some free ones!

I will give you my super easy and, we think, yummy recipe for crock pot apple butter.This is so simple a recipe it is a great thing to make if haven't canned before and wanted to try something!


5 1/2 lbs of apples       I usually do half granny smith and half some other sweeter apple
4    C  sugar                I do half brown sugar because I like it that away
2    tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt

Peel,core and finely chop apples. Mix everything in your crock pot. Cover and cook 1 hr on high. Reduce to low and cook 9-11 hrs or until your desired  thickness. We don't do smooth apple butter we like ours chunky so I usually get out the ole tater masher and just mash it up good. You can run it through a food mill or blender ,again what ever way you like it! BWB can it.

9 comments:

Leslie said...

Oh, your apple butter looks yummy! I have not heard of those lids, but I like the idea.

Bobbi Jo Nichols said...

It is good to hear about these lids. I have heard so much buzz about them. I guess I will have to get me some for my next canning time.
Gotta love homemade apple butter! Yummy!
Thank you for your well wishes. I am better each minute, but there is a lot of me to get better so it will take time. he he
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Tina@WhatWeKeep said...

Hi Mel~
I've got my apples and I am making some this week. We love apple butter, but I've never made it myself. Can't wait.

Glad you entered the giveaway!

T.

brokenteepee said...

right now I am at war with my tattler lids...I lost a quart of tomato sauce last night

Melodie said...

Pricilla,
What happened? Did it unseal? I sometimes get one once in a blue moon that has a bad seal with regular lids too.....I need more info about what went wrong so I can be on the look out.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

This is the first I've heard of these lids. Interesting.

Nancy said...

I've heard of these lids for some time now, but I doubt I will invest in them, as we don't do as much canning anymore. I like your recipe! :)

Texan said...

I have not tried these as you know, well you know me I was waiting for you to do it first! :O)... I do hope your right and Ball and Kerr etc. will start making their lids BPA free!!!

Ya no Pears this year really stunk huh. :O(.

Sharon said...

Have never heard of tattler lids... reusable, sounds great, lass stuff in the landfills!

The apple butter looks good!