Pams Carmelized Ginger Apple Butter Recipes

PAM'S CARMELIZED GINGER APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• 1. Core and cut up apples, leaving unpeeled. Place in a 6 qt Dutch oven with 1/4 c water to keep from burning and cook over medium high heat until very soft, stirring occasionally.
• 2. Put the cooked apples through a food mill or press through a strainer to separate the pulp from the skins.
• 3. For each 4 c of pulp, add lemon, cinnamon, cloves and ginger juice (start with the smaller amount of ginger juice and add more if you want more ginger taste.) Hold in a mixing bowl until needed.
• 4. Rinse the Dutch oven and dry. For each 4 c of pulp, place 1 c of sugar in the pan over medium heat and carmelize it, stirring constantly, to medium/dark golden. (Watch carefully to make sure you do not burn the sugar especially if you have the heat higher.)
• 5. Add the apple pulp mixture to the Dutch oven, stir well. (Be careful, as the carmelized sugar is very hot and the apple mixture will harden it around the edges. You may (probably will) find large lumps of sugar in the pulp, but they will dissolve during the cooking/ reducing process.
• 6. It may "Pop" bubbles to the surface which can burn you.) Cover and cook on low heat until the sugar has completely re-disolved into the apple. Stir occasionally. Turn to Medium low and cook until reduced and thickened to your preference. To test the thickness, just take a small spoonful out and let it cool. It should mound up on the spoon somewhat. This will give you an idea of the texture of the finished apple butter.
• 7. Freeze in small freezer containers or can in half pint to pint jars and process as per current instructions for apple butter. (See the Ball Canning book for water bath timing)

SPICED GINGER-APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring first 4 ingredients to boil in saucepan, stirring. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until apples fall apart, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Purée in processor in batches with ginger. Return to pan.
• Partially cover apple butter; simmer over medium heat (sauce tends to splatter) until reduced to 2 1/2 cups, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Cool completely. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

WHIPPED SWEET POTATOES WITH GINGER AND CARAMELIZED APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake until tender, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand until cool enough to handle.
• Cut each potato lengthwise. Scoop flesh into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; discard skins. Add 2 tablespoons butter and the cream; mix on medium speed until smooth. Mix in applesauce and ginger; season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer potato mixture to an ovenproof dish. Bake until heated through, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss apples with sugar in a bowl. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add apple mixture; cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are golden and caramelized, about 10 minutes.
• Remove potato mixture from oven; top with caramelized apples, and serve.