Crisp apple slices swirl around in sugar and lime juice until they eventually soften into delicious comforting warmth. This applesauce is delicious when served warm over toasted frozen waffles drizzled with maple syrup and fresh cream. Cooking times may vary when using different apples. Sucanat is organic dried cane juice and dark muscovado will take your cooking to new levels of delicious flavor. The applesauce is also delicious when used in pastries, especially with puff pastry.

    8 Golden Delicious or Braeburn apples
    ½ cup water
     ¼ cup sucanat or granulated sugar
    2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice
    ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
     1 teaspoon dark muscovado or dark brown sugar

1. In a 3-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the water, sugar, lime juice,
    apple pie spice and dark muscovado sugar.

2. As you peel, core and slice the apples, add the slices to the simmering
    syrup while stirring occasionally. Continue to cook the apple slices 
    over medium heat until all the slices have been added and then reduce 
    the heat to medium low. 

3. Use a potato masher to press the apples into the liquid as they become
     soft. Stir occasionally. This process takes about15 minutes or slightly
     longer. Refrigerate the applesauce in an airtight container.

   Variation: Add a dash of balsamic vinegar instead of lemon juice, 
     then instead of cinnamon, add a pinch dried rosemary, pinch cloves, 
    pinch allspice, pinch mace and a  teaspoon butter.

    Creative Use of Recipe: Make "Star Fruit Pastries with Raspberry 
    and  Apple." Arrange puff pastry rustically on a cookie sheet. Spread
    with a layer of homemade applesauce (variation with muscovado 
    sugar) and raspberry jam. Place star fruit on the top and then place in 
    freezer. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Increase to 400 just before 
    baking pastries. Bake until crispy on the edges, 20-25 minutes. Drizzle 
    with a vanilla icing, this can be made with confectioners’ sugar that is 
    blended with a few drops of whipping cream. Add a drop of vanilla 
    and then sprinkle freshly drizzled pastries with cinnamon sugar. 

    Ingredient Source: To locate the sugar needed for this recipe, 
    please see:  Gourmet Food Store

    Makes 4 side-dish servings