Sugar Free Applesauce - 5 Healthy Ingredients

There is so much comfort found in a bowl of homemade applesauce. 

I feel like I am transported in time and am 12 again, "helping" or rather sampling  my mom's delicious applesauce she'd make each year from apples that grew in the front yard. These apples were only for applesauce and pies, terribly bitter and pithy yet she knew how to magically create a sauce that still warms my heart to this day and makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Homemade applesauce reminds me of my mom, it reminds Gerald of his mom and her homemade applesauce; it is a comforting food for the heart and soul. All my worries disappear and the memory is so strong with that bite of applesauce, it makes all the peeling and effort worthwhile. Plus, it is incredibly delicious and when made without the standard amount of sugar, it is very good for you boasting lots of fiber and vitamin C.  

In a standard recipe you could use as much as 2 cups of refined sugar, yet now you can have applesauce sweetened with just 1 cup of dates and not miss the sweet. 

Ingredients:
16 Apples (Fresh Organic, Crisp, Slightly Sweet)
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice - Freshly Squeezed
1 Cup Filtered Water
1 Cup Medjool Dates - Pitted
​2 tsp Ground Cinnamon 

Directions:

1. Wash the apples, peel and core. Place the apples, pitted medjool dates, lemon juice and water in a pot over medium-high heat for 7 minutes. Stirring occasionally, as needed.
   
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for another 10 minutes or more if needed, until the apples are soft. Stirring occasionally as needed to avoid sticking.
   
3. Stir in the cinnamon and mash up the apples. You can also run it through a sieve / food mill or allow to cool and blend until smooth. Enjoy as is or store in a sealed container in the fridge, freeze for longer term storage, use as an oil replacement and more. 
   

Notes:

• This recipe can be reduced for smaller batches or increased for larger batches very well.
• Leaving the apple skin on will result in an even healthier batch with more fiber, yet ensure the apples have not been sprayed and are organic. I haven't tried this method yet. 
• See my other recipe for a different unique version.