Making Applesauce...from scratch!I

So, what have I been doing? Since it's been so long since I last updated my blog I'll give you the short version. Considering my current state of unemployment (I actually start a job at Kohl's tomorrow!), I haven't been doing too much. I really have no good reason for not updating...just the fact that I've been too lazy. The main culinary event has been applesauce made from scratch. I went apple-picking with my aunt and got quite a lot of apples for only $5! I had been wanting to try canning foods for quite some time now, and fresh apples were perfect for trying it. It was quite an expedition to learn how to can. It's not so hard, but there are several steps involved and accurate timing and sanitation are key. 

Fresh apples, just washed and ready to be peeled...my not so favourite part!

The lovely ingredients to be made into applesauce. The original recipe called for honey, but everyone knows how vegans feel about honey...agave nectar to the rescue!

Here are the apples all chopped, peeled, and mixed with lemon and apple juice to simmer until soft.

I used a food mill to puree the soft apples into a smooth, but still textured applesauce.

Here's my applesauce, ready to be simmered on the stove. I don't know why that step was necessary, but it probably had to do with bacteria content.

Here's the applesauce after I added the agave nectar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The applesauce tasted fine without any of the additions, but since it was the first time I was trying the recipe I wanted to keep as true to it as possible.

Here are the pretty jars all washed and ready to be boiled before filling them with tasty applesauce!

The finished product! The applesauce was put into 1/2 pint jars and then boiled for twenty minutes to seal the lids. Now I will have applesauce all winter and probably into the summer. I got nine 1/2 pint jars.

Now, since this is a vegan blog we have to end on some cuteness. Here are a few shots of some of the pets at my house.

Gus, enjoying himself at the dog park.

Baily, in one of his favourite spots: a dining room chair!

Well, that's all for this post, but I have a question for you all: has anyone tried canning and if you have what is your favourite thing to can?