Happy Hour Kitchen - VIDEO RECIPES

You might think this is for kiddies in tiny snack cups, but it's a great snack to take to work or the perfect sauce/side alternative for meats (especially pork!) instead of using, say, a chutney! I mean, WHAT is a chutney....

Ingredients

5 medium-large apples (yields about 6 cups chopped apples, any combo of apples works)
3/4 cup water
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon and ground cloves (optional, just if you like the flav-ah-flave)
1/4 cup sugar

Tools

Cutting board
Peeler
Sharp knife (a steak knife will do)
Medium saucepan
Set of measuring cups and spoons
Fork or Masher
Apple Corer (optional)

Prep Tips

Use any kinds of apples - even a mix is ok. You'll quickly learn from cooking with them that some soften more than other, some are sweeter, etc. and you'll discover your own preference.

Step-by-Step

Peel the apples. To speed it up, peel around the stem of the apple and then down from the stem in strips.
Cut the apple away from the core in slices or use an apple corer to remove the core.
Cut the slices of apple into 1/2 inch to 1 inch cubes. Plop them in the saucepan as you go to clear your butting board.
Add the 3/4 cup water to saucepan.
OPTIONAL: If you like the flavor of cinamon or cloves, add 1/4 tsp combo of these ground ingredients. If you don't like the flavor or just like one, you call the shots.
Bring to a boil. You might not be able to see the water in the pan, so listen for the boil.
Reduce to a simmer. This means still bubbling but not a rolling boil. On most burners this mean low or 2/10 if your burner has numbers.
Leave simmering for 10 mins. Stir every couple of minutes.
Add the 1/4 cup sugar. Some recipes call for 1/2 cup sugar for this amount of apples, but I find that to be too sweet and crossing the line from healthy snack into sugary no-no.
Simmer for another 5 mins.
Turn off the burner.
Let pan sit for 2 mins to cool off. Stir a bit to release the eat faster.
To mash:
PLASTIC MASHER (used in video): Ok to mash in saucepan
METAL MASHER OR FORK TO MASH: Move contents of pan into mixing bowl and mash. Metal utensil on a saucepan is no good.
Let it cool off and enjoy!