So what does apple sauce have to do with Hanukkah? Well, we love it with our potato latkes, which is a traditional meal to eat during Hanukkah. Some people eat them with sour cream or apricot jam but we simply stick with apple sauce.

Over the years, people have asked me for the secret to my apple sauce. Interestingly, I think of my apple sauce as being no doubt tasty but rather simple and common. But who am I to argue when I am told it is extraordinary? After all these years, I have struggled with why, but have finally come up with the only possible answer ~ my ♥ and intention while making it. Yes, of course I try to find the best local ingredients, but I think it must be the added ingredients that makes it stand above the rest.
There are two other secrets as well.

1. I only use apples but not common baking apples. I also make sure there are at least five different varieties in my sauce, such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, Baldwin, Empire, Golden Delicious, Gala, Jonagold to name a few. Sure, you can use the standards like McIntosh or Cortland, but make sure you include some other varieties. This makes the flavor more complex and delicious.
2. I use apple cider instead of water.

Debbie’s Naked Apple Sauce

Ingredients

• A variety of local apples
• Red Jacket Apple Cider (if you cannot find it, ask your local grocer to stock it or use another local apple cider)

Peel, core, and slice apples. Make sure there is a nice mixture of sweet and tart apples. Add apples to a large sauce pan. When the sauce pan is full of sliced apples, fill the sauce pan with about 1 ½ inches of apple cider. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 20-30 minutes, until the apples are soft and mushy (yes, mushy is a technical term). Then remove from stove and use a potato masher to well – mash the apples. You can use a food mill but I like chunky apple sauce.

Well, there you have it – now you can make you very own Naked Apple Sauce to go with your potato latkes, no sugar, no spices – just ♥. I highly recommend that you get to know who is growing your apples, without a doubt, it tastes so much better – ENJOY!

May peace prevail on earth so we all get to celebrate the way we want to.

Happy Hanukkah!