Applesauce: More Than a Side Dish

Applesauce is a handy food that can be used in many different ways. Applesauce is not only a great snack for all ages, it can be used for baking, as a topping, or with a meal.

Homemade applesauce does not have added sugar because apples have natural sugar and fewer ingredients are needed to make it. Most store bought applesauce contains added sugar like high fructose corn syrup. The following list of ingredients is from a store-purchased sweetened applesauce.  Notice that the second ingredient is high fructose corn syrup.  Be sure to be an informed consumer and read not only the label but also the ingredient list when purchasing applesauce.

Good Shepherd Food Bank has frozen applesauce in 2 and 4 cup packages (4 and 8 half-cup servings) made from local Maine apples, with no additives.

Besides snacking, applesauce can be:

• Added to yogurt, cottage cheese or oatmeal
• Used as a topping for pancakes or waffles
• Used in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or as a spread on toast instead of jelly, which can be high in added sugar
• Used in baking to lower the fat calories in a recipe by substituting half of the oil or butter for applesauce. If a recipe calls for ½ cup oil, use ¼ cup oil and ¼ cup applesauce instead.
• Used as a substitute for up to 2 eggs in a recipe, even if the recipe calls for only 2 eggs.  Substitute ¼ cup of applesauce for each egg; do not substitute more than two eggs in a recipe or the results won’t be desirable.  

Applesauce Muffins

• 2 cups flour
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• ½ cup butter, melted

Directions:

1.       Heat oven to 375 degrees

2.       Spray muffin tins with nonstick spray

3.       Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a bowl

4.       Mix in beaten egg, applesauce and melted butter (by hand do not need a mixer)

5.       Evenly scoop mixture into muffin pans

6.       Bake for 18-20 minutes. Test to see if toothpick comes out clean

http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-applesauce-muffins-389287

Apple Cinnamon French Toast

• 3 large eggs
• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup applesauce
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 6 slices of your favorite whole wheat bread

Directions:

Break eggs into a large, shallow mixing bowl. Add applesauce and cinnamon. Using a fork or whisk, gently whip mixture until well blended. Set aside. Melt butter in a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Dip bread, one slice at a time, in egg mixture (be sure to coat both sides). Place coated slices carefully into the skillet and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.

http://www.treetop.com/ConsumerBrands/RecipeDetail.aspx?ID=92