Tart applesauce

I love fall. It is by far the best season and one of the reasons it is the best is because of all the delicious foods that come with it. It is the start of comfort food season. One of the healthiest comfort foods in my opinion is applesauce, especially warm apple sauce. Maybe with a scoop of ice cream on top but that would certainly make it less healthy. Anyway, I have a few applesauce recipes I use, but this one is a less sweet, more tart version that is good when you want to have this with a meal instead of as a dessert.

Ingredients:

4 granny smith apples, peel, cored, and diced
3/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1/2 a small lemon, juiced
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Place apples, apple juice, water, and zest in a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Cook on medium-high heat and bring to a slow boil. Boil for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft enough to be easily mashed. Mash with a potato masher, turn heat down to low, season with salt and continue to cook until it is the thickness you want. I usually cook mine for 5 or so minutes. Turn off heat, stir in lemon juice and serve.