When life gives you apples...

I just had an apple that was almost too juicy to eat without leaving a puddle of water on my desk. It was a Gala, one of the best type to just grab and munch. Outstanding flavor, which reminds us that apples are great in the fall and winter, and they're particularly good this year.

One of the best ways to enjoy fresh apples is to make that childhood favorite: applesauce. The flavor is totally different from what you get from a jar. Fabulous with pork chops, wonderful on oatmeal or spread on a muffin, this is versatile hot or cold.

When my children were babies, they loved this stuff, and it needs juicy, juicy Gala apples to make it sing:

5 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
1 tablespoon orange or lemon juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon each cinnamon and allspice. Maybe toss in a pinch of cloves, if you're bored.
Put in a food processor (or a blender, with just a little water or apple juice to get it moistened), then whirl away until it reaches the consistency you want. Adjust seasonings as you please.

Oh, our vegan friends can use this, too.