Apple Pie Filling

This is another great recipe to can. I suggest you don't make it your 1st experience with canning tho. It was quite sticky and a little tougher as the air bubbles need to be released. This would be fantastic to just make near the holidays to pass out as a mini gift! I am not going to repeat the pie crust recipe. (Its on the Blueberry filling Blog)
Now lets make some apple pies!


4 and 1/2 cups of Sugar
1 cup of Cornstarch
3 Tsps of Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp of Nutmeg
2 Tsps of Salt
10 cups of water
3Tbsps Lemon Juice
5 drops of Yellow Food Coloring
10 lbs of Apples (peeled cored and sliced)

Sterilize all your jars and lids.  Keep your sliced apples in a bowl of cold water so they don't turn brown. This made 6 jars for me. In a large pan mix Sugar, Cornstarch, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg. Add in Salt and Water and mix really well. Bring to a boil and cook until it gets really thick and starts to bubble.Turn off heat. Now start to stuff your jars with the apple slices do not pack them full we still need to add the liquid. Add your lemon juice and food coloring to your liquid and stir well. Now ladle the mixture on top of the apples taking your time. I even walked away once or twice to let it settle throughout the jar. Here is the tricky part get a plastic knife and slide down the sides of your jars to release more of the air bubbles. Add more of the liquid until you have only about an inch of head space at the top of the jar. Now I know you will have a big sticky mess all over your counter but don't worry its worth the mess. Wipe down the tops of the jars and put your lids on. Give em an average twist just as if you were closing a regular jar. Now just simply submerse these jars in a boiling pan of water covering the tops of the jars and boil for 20-25 mins. Carefully remove them and place them on a towel and allow to sit for 24hrs. Listen for the wonderful popping sounds. After the 24hrs simply press the tops of your jars and make sure they don't pop up and down. Now you have a shelf life of 1 year.
When ever you are ready just bake at 350 for 50-55 mins and don't forget to try the easy homemade pie crust recipe on the Blueberry Pie Blog!
Serve any way you wish I prefer it cold but of course my family wanted it warm and it was delicious both ways!