Homemade applesauce - the perfect PCP comfort food

I've been eating this almost every chance I get.  Tastes even better when you heat it up!


Applesauce
12-15 apples (a mixture of varieties work best)
1 pear (my secret ingredient:)
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla bean (if you can't get one, add a splash of vanilla extract when sauce is finished)

Wash apples and cut into chunks (I cut in half, take out the seeds with a melon baller) and then cut apple into 8ths (size doesn't really matter, but all the pieces should be about the same size)

Do the same for the pear.

Put apples, pear, cinnamon stick and vanilla bean (cut lengthwise w/seeds scraped out), add enough water to cover the bottom, maybe 1/2 inch, and cover.  Simmer on low until everything's mushy.  Stir occasionally.

When the mixture cools a bit, put small batches through a food mill.  If you don't have a food mill, peel and core the apples before you cook them, and mash the mixture with the back of a large fork or potato masher.

Enjoy!  Let me know if you have questions.