Making the most of our apple tree!

Enterprise_1701C

If you had any berries in the garden you would know by now!

I never knew anyone put anything extra in apple sauce, I just chop up the apples, add a little water and boil on high until cooked. This sauce freezes beautifully.

I so envy you with your tree - would also make a nice sauce to go with some venison I have in the freezer from a hunter friend of ours!

Mazzy_2

Jane_Blackford wrote: »

If you had any berries in the garden you would know by now!

I never knew anyone put anything extra in apple sauce, I just chop up the apples, add a little water and boil on high until cooked. This sauce freezes beautifully.

I so envy you with your tree - would also make a nice sauce to go with some venison I have in the freezer from a hunter friend of ours!

I like the sound of your simple sauce, no added sugar and no added cost either! :T Roughly how much water would you add to how many apples? And how long would the sauce keep for in the freezer? Thanks

sarah1972

Mazzy wrote: »

Oh for heaven's sake! :mad:

I know, the worlds gone mad !

hitatotatus

I don't add any water to mine. Just cook really slowly and the juice will do the rest.
I buy up any fruit at reduction time in the supermarket and simmer down, freeze and use for pies and crumbles when the fancy takes me. Last time I had figs 10p, blackberries 30p, apples 20p and plums 20p. Made about five batches - lovely.
Sometimes add a few tbsps of sugar and a slice of butter too.:j

Zanderman

sarah1972 wrote: »

My neighbour approached our local organic shop and they said that they are not allowed by law to buy them from people because we cant prove that they have been grown organically. :eek:

Mazzy wrote: »

Oh for heaven's sake! :mad:

sarah1972 wrote: »

I know, the worlds gone mad !

Don't understand your problem with this. The whole point of the 'Organic' label is that it proves a product has been produced without pesticides etc etc. To be labelled 'Organic' suppliers have to provide written evidence of their production process, and prove no use of chemicals over several years. It's a certificated scheme.

So, the world hasn't gone 'mad'. It's a very sensible scheme to protect us/you, the consumer, from false claims. We MSErs whould be supporting it (it's in our interests) not casting scorn on it.

You can't market garden produce as 'Organic' unless you've registered and passed the tests - very unlikely unless you're a commercial producer. In the case of the OP, they only acquired the apple tree 3 months ago, so how would they know whether it has been treated with chemicals in the last few years?

You can, of course, market produce as from a 'garden where no chemicals are used', or where you are 'striving to grow organically', assuming that you are. Or just sell to the local greengrocers as 'ordinary' locally-grown apples (why try to use the term organic?).

'Organic' is, rightly or wrongly (it is just a word after all!) a technical standard these days, and can't be used unless you reach that standard.

sarah1972

Zanderman wrote: »

Don't understand your problem with this. The whole point of the 'Organic' label is that it proves a product has been produced without pesticides etc etc. To be labelled 'Organic' suppliers have to provide written evidence of their production process, and prove no use of chemicals over several years. It's a certificated scheme.

So, the world hasn't gone 'mad'. It's a very sensible scheme to protect us/you, the consumer, from false claims. We MSErs whould be supporting it (it's in our interests) not casting scorn on it.

You can't market garden produce as 'Organic' unless you've registered and passed the tests - very unlikely unless you're a commercial producer. In the case of the OP, they only acquired the apple tree 3 months ago, so how would they know whether it has been treated with chemicals in the last few years?

You can, of course, market produce as from a 'garden where no chemicals are used', or where you are 'striving to grow organically', assuming that you are. Or just sell to the local greengrocers as 'ordinary' locally-grown apples (why try to use the term organic?).

'Organic' is, rightly or wrongly (it is just a word after all!) a technical standard these days, and can't be used unless you reach that standard.

You are quite right, organic food should be proven otherwise it could just be sold as such an not be the case.

They did try the 'garden where no chemicals are used' but were still told that they could not buy them unless an invoice was produced and proof that it is a company selling them as they cant just buy from anyone.

I do totally see your valid point :beer:
I think the world has gone mad in as much as people could of bought some lovely apples but instead they ended up in the compost bin :eek:

Enterprise_1701C

Mazzy wrote: »

I like the sound of your simple sauce, no added sugar and no added cost either! :T Roughly how much water would you add to how many apples? And how long would the sauce keep for in the freezer? Thanks

Honestly do not know how much water I put in - If I use a small pan I tend to put a little less than an inch in the bottom with a good half pan full of apples. The quantities are really down to trial and error! As for how long it keeps in the freezer, I have used it at least a year old, I would bet on it lasting a lot longer too.

Mazzy_2

Jane_Blackford wrote: »

Honestly do not know how much water I put in - If I use a small pan I tend to put a little less than an inch in the bottom with a good half pan full of apples. The quantities are really down to trial and error! As for how long it keeps in the freezer, I have used it at least a year old, I would bet on it lasting a lot longer too.

Thanks, I'll have to do a bit of experimenting then! :rotfl: Good to know the sauce lasts that long in the freezer too, thanks for your help!

Kimitatsu

Our apple tree has gone mad this year - considering they were pruned back mega hard last year I was a little suprised! Do you have anywhere to store them? If you wrap them in tissue paper and place them somewhere cool and dry they will see you through much of the winter.

Enterprise_1701C

Apple trees are known for going mad when they have been pruned really hard the previous year, seems to be a rather masochistic trait! My parents always used to layer them with newspaper and put them in the garage, used to last through the year to the next crop.