Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs firm cooking apples, cored and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

  1. Roughly chop the apples into quarters or sixths and place them into a large heavy-bottomed pot along with the water and lemon juice.
  2. Cover the pot and cook over medium-low heat for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are completely tender and collapse when pressed with a fork.
  3. Set a food mill over a clean bowl or pot. Spoon the hot apples into the mill in small batches and turn the crank steadily to remove skins and seeds. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the mill.
  4. Return the smooth puree to the pot. Stir in the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  5. Simmer the mixture uncovered for an additional 5–10 minutes until the desired thickness is reached.