Organic Apple Sauce...

I try to be very conscious about my daughter's snack choices. She loves apples, therefore, apple sauce was a natural choice.

In January, however, a report was published regarding mercury levels in US. Corn Syrup. Because popular brands like Motts applesauce contain high fructose corn syrup, I thought I'd share this article with you: Studies Find Mercury in Much U.S. Corn Syrup.

Consequently, I switched to buying alternative brands, like Woodstock Farms and Musselmans which contain only natural ingredients. Problem? My daughter did not like any of them. So, I decided we would make our own applesauce. I included her in the process and made a small test batch just in case it did not appeal to her taste. She tasted a spoonful and loved it! Since she literally couldn't wait to eat more, we instantly served it, still warm.

Here's our home-made recipe (all organic ingredients):

Ingredients:

*2-3 McIntosh apples, peeled and chopped (or any apple of your choosing)
*3/4 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed or 100% OJ)
*1/8 cup brown sugar
*1/2 tsp lemon zest
*1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

*Combine orange juice and chopped apples in a deep saucepan. Boil for about 10 minutes on medium heat, stirring often.

*Stir in brown sugar, lemon zest, and cinnamon. Cook uncovered until the apples reach the desired consistency (for about 20 minutes), stirring often. Adjust measurement of ingredients to suit your taste.

*Serve warm and enjoy.

*Note: You can store up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Put in food processor or blender and puree if you prefer applesauce with a smoother texture.