I will start off this post with clearing my guilty feelings. I am sorry fellow bloggers for not having been around to comment this week. Life has been nuts. Nothing majors, just super busy. I thought my schedule would calm down as the weather would cool down for fall…but nothing could have been further from the truth. Work is super busy and my social schedule is busting at the seam. So next week starting with a clean slate and I’ll be back at commenting.
Have you been suffering from the same busy bee ailment as I? I have to say I am not complaining, life has been a blast. Today will be more of a visual treat of a day trip spent with friends. One of our stops was an apple orchard. And it was the perfect excuse to super-major-over the top-play with the best applesauce ever I made last year. The trick is making it over a long period of time in a slow cooker: it totally gets caramelized and the apple flavor dominates. This year I added notes of lavender, vanilla and raspberries with a splash of bourbon. Sounds like weird mix but they all do go together and the notes were subtle. Time to make some Bourbon Lavender Raspberry Applesauce!
Before I post the recipe here are a few of my favorite clicks following an amazing autumn day spent just south-east of Montreal in a region called the Eastern Townships.
Gorgeous fall colors as a backdrop to a corn field.
Melanie has trouble eating and picking apples at the same time!
Michele is the smart one getting the best apples at the top on a ladder.
Perfect fall photo.
Time for squash anyone?
Yeah, me being silly with a huge apple in my mouth!
So the latest apple craze is the Honeycrisp variety. It is even more expensive at the apple orchard then regular varieties…except where we went where they did not charge extra for these beauties. I am not a regular apple fan for snacks but this one is exceptionally good. Honeycrisps are known for their sweetness, firmness, and tartness. Apparently it has much larger cells than most apples, which rupture when bitten to fill the mouth with juice. The Honeycrisp also boasts a relatively long shelf life when stored in cool, dry conditions.
A hike through the woods at a local vineyard.
So thirsty, time for some wine AND a ladybug.
Ziggy, the gorgeous finishing touch to another wonderful fall color view with the vineyards.
Leaving Lac Brome with local duck in our tummies we caught the last rays of the sun over the lake.
Is the moon not just amazing this year?
And now unto the recipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bourbon Lavender Raspberry Applesauce
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples cored and diced (I used Honeycrisp)
- 5 ounces raspberries
- 1/4 cup sugar or honey
- 1 to 2 tablespoons edible lavender slightly crushed
- 1/4 cup bourbon or water
Instructions
- Prepare the apples. No need to peel unless you prefer it.
- Mix together all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Add a pinch of salt and optionally 1 tablespoon vanilla extract.
- Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours.
You have gorgeous photos! Look at those apples! They are adorable! And also, I like your boozy applesauce because it also contains raspberries and lavender! Absolutely awesome!
Thanks Nagi and so happy I revisited this post with your comment. That was such a fun and and a great applesauce!
Gorgeous photos Evelyne! I LOVE the flavours in the applesauce. Glad you had a blast..I am almost missing Autumn now.
SO many wonderful photos, Evelyne! Wish we could be there with you all 🙂
Cheers,
J+C
What a lovely trip you’ve taken us on Eve! And sorry to hear that you’ve been too busy. I was definitely like that earlier this month. Somehow I need to find more hours in the day!
Thank you Lorraine, glad you enjoyed ‘the trip’ 🙂
What lovely produce!! The applesauce looks fab and I would love to try this.
I too have been busy with festivities here (Diwali) and travelling and not been able to visit my fellow bloggers.
Thank you and Happy DIwali, thanks for stopping by in your busy schedule
So many terrific photos…glad you’ve been enjoying yourself!! Now I’m craving a Honeycrisp apple 🙂
Thank you Liz and kinda craving one too, I am out.
Love candid shots of you! Lovely flavors here. I can just imagine how they bloom!
Ha ha yeah I am really good at being silly 🙂
Love the picture of you with an apple! <3 I'm jealous of your fall weather and scenery! Here everything is green or brown..haven't seen yellow or red yet. What a fun day to pick apples. And your apple sauce sounds fabulous!
Thank you Nami, and trust me come winter I will be jealous of your warmer weather compared to mine!
Love this post and the apple season. And your recipe looks like a major yum!
Thank you so much Ela 🙂
What a beautiful place to spend a day! Such gorgeous colors! Thanks for sharing your day and your applesauce recipe! Raspberries and bourbon take this far beyond being an “applesauce”. And then the lavender…what awesome depth!
Thanks MJ I am glad you like my take and thanks for the compliment on the pictures!
I just made some fresh ginger applesauce. Love using applesauce instead of oil in my baking. Your boozy applesauce with raspberries and lavender is definitely BETTER!
Awesome picture you guys picking and eating apples and that moon click is really cool!
Have a wonderful weekend, Evelyne!
Angie
Thanks Angie and I am sure your applesauce recipe is amazing, like all your recipes. Have a great week too!