Crockpot Applesauce

With the warmer weather, the Crockpot hasn't been out quite as often, but I did pull it out this week to whip up some applesauce. The main purpose was to use up a bunch of slightly less than perfect apples I'd been collecting in the bottom of the fridge - I think there were Gala, Granny Smith & Red Delicious - really it was a pretty random collection and I used them all up.

Ingredients

• 6 apples, peeled, cored and cut into quarters
• 1/2 cup pecan pieces (optional)
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 3" stick cinnamon
• Lemon Peel - 3" strip 
• Orange Peel - 3" strip
• Juice from 1/2 lemon

Throw everything in the crockpot and cook on Low for 4-5 hours, or until your apples are nice and soft. I stirred periodically along the way to gradually break up the apples as they became softer.  When done remove the cinnamon stick and citrus peels. At this point you could use an immersion blender to smooth it out, but I love the chunkiness so I left as is and called it good.

I'm looking forward to eating this on some hot oatmeal, but I'm not sure it will last that long - I've been eating it straight out the bowl as a dessert!

Makes around 4 cups.