Apple Pie Filling

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 6 lbs apples
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon ascorbic acid (optional) or 2 teaspoons lemon juice to treat the apples

Recipe

• 1 wash, peel and slice apples. treat to prevent darkening - either with a produce protector or 2 tsp of lemon juice.
• 2 combine sugar, flour and spices. rinse and drain apples; stir into sugar mixture.
• 3 let stand until juices begin to flow, about 30 minutes. stir in lemon juice and zest.
• 4 cook over medium heat until mixture begins to thicken. remove cloves, ladle pie filling into plastic freezer jars or containers, leaving 1/2 inch head space.
• 5 cool at room temperature, not to exceed two hours. it is now ready to be used in a recipe or else, seal, label and freeze.