Applesauce

I have fall fever and a drawer full of apples.  Applesauce is one of those things I make when I need to get rid of apples, so it's not something I usually purchase, but let's give it a test run, just to make sure.

The store brand: Harris Teeter original applesauce (store brand)

My recipe (straight from my head):
5 medium apples (I'll use any variety)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp cinnamon
tiny pinch of salt

- Peel and dice up all the apples - I usually leave mine in about 1 inch pieces.
- Combine everything in a saucepan and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes.

- Use a potato masher to mash down into your favorite consistency (you can use a hand blender if you like it really smooth, but I like the CHUNKS!).
- Taste and add more sugar/cinnamon to taste.

So, how does it taste?  Amazing.  It's so easy to make and it's not even fair that I ate it warm next to the jar of baby food store bought applesauce.  It tastes SO much better.  Nutrition-wise mine does have sugar added, but the store brand is high fructose corn syrup, so whatevs.

And the cost?

	Size	Cost	Cost/Oz
Harris Teeter Original	24 oz	$      1.69	$            0.07
Homemade	28 oz	$      2.83	$            0.10

So the homemade does cost more to make.  Just as a note - I did buy the store brand, and it was mostly because Mott's was much more expensive.  In comparison to Mott's brand, the homemade is just about the same price.  But aside from the cost war, taste just wins here - it's just so much better.

Bake or Buy? BAKE!

What about you?  Leave a comment and let me know if you buy applesauce or make your own!