So having grown up in a family that owned (for 30 years!) a business here in Vermont, I have always been a very "buy-local" gal and still am! It's also no secret that I frequent the local natural food store and that we are really trying to instill in our daughter a love for organic foods at an early age.I found a great combination of local, organic and *delicious* packed into Vermont Village Applesauce and am completely enamored with their product! Vermont Village is not only all natural and manufactured here in Vermont, but they work in collaboration with many local farmers, so not only do I feel great eating it, but I feel good buying it.
You may be wondering what the big whoop about applesauce here is, but let me tell you, this is not your everyday, run-of-the-mill, brown-bag-lunch applesauce. It has a rich texture- full of real, juicy apple and with a lively, full-mouthed flavor, it's almost like getting to eat dessert anytime, guilt-free! It tastes homemade because, well.. it is! They still make this the old fashioned way in small kettles, ensuring it's incredible taste.
The company sent us an assortment of flavors to try- all unsweetened and with fresh fruit varieties including Peach, Strawberry Banana, Mixed Berry, Raspberry and Tropical Mango, and the whole family has gone fruity (haha, get it?) over them! Vivi is enjoying the change from icky processed apples to this yummy variety (her fave is the mango!) and Mike (our resident chef) has been trying out some of their recipes, and is loving the applesauce salad dressing. And me? Well, I discovered they make Maple Applesauce and have been in 7th heaven ever since!
WIN IT!
We’re giving away a Vermont Villages Organic Pack the Pantry giveaway!! Our prize package will consist of 4 packs of each flavor pack in the following flavors:
♥Unsweetened♥
♥Cinnamon♥
♥Peach♥
♥Strawberry Banana♥
♥Mixed Berry♥
♥Tropical Mango♥
HOW TO ENTER:
To enter the Pack The Pantry Giveaway, leave me a comment (go to the bottom of this post and you will see a "click here to leave comment" button) and leave one of the following:
1. Your favorite recipe involving apples (it can be your own recipe or just one you've made)
or
2. Your favorite Fall photo
One comment entry per person, please read below for instructions on how to submit additional entries. Please include what state you are from with your entry! The winner will be chosen by random raffle after all entries have been completed. Contest will close on Friday, June 18th at 12:00 PM.
Additional Entries:
You can submit additional contest entries by doing to following:
1. “Follow” my blog and leave me a comment telling me why you think it is important to buy local.
2. Fellow bloggers can link my blog to yours and also gain an additional entry.
This product was provided free of charge by Vermont Village Applesauce. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind
My Favorite Apple Sauce recipe:
ReplyDeleteSpiced Applesauce Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
For frosting
5 oz cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch square cake pan.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
Beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla with mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in applesauce. At low speed, mix in flour mixture until just combined.
Spread batter evenly in pan and bake until golden-brown and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen, then invert onto a plate. Reinvert cake onto a rack to cool completely.
Frosting:
Beat cream cheese, vanilla and butter with mixer at high speed until fluffy. Sift confectioners sugar and cinnamon over cream cheese mixture, then beat at medium speed until incorporated.
Spread frosting over top of cooled cake.
Enjoy!
I stole the Applesauce Fudgies from their website, they sound amazing. Can't wait to give the recipe a shot.
ReplyDeleteApplesauce Fudgies
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Vermont Village Unsweetened Applesauce
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Melt chcocolate and butter together.
Mix applesauce, eggs, sugar and vanilla.
Sift dry ingredients into applesauce mixture.
Stir until blended; add chocolate and stir well.
Pour into greased 9 inch square pan. Sprinkle with walnuts. Bake in 350 F. oven for 30 minutes.
Cut in 2 inch squares; cool in pan on racks.
Serves 16.
I"m all about baking apples...
ReplyDeleteadapted from here:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1729,146163-224202,00.html
2 lg. apples (whatever you have on hand works)
2 tsp. soft butter (real is better than margarine)
4 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Handful raisins (optional. so are nuts and-or marshmallows--I vote marshmallows on top, to plug the hole, added the last 30 seconds)
2 tbsp. water OR Cider (cider is better!)
1 tbsp. honey and/or maple syrup
Core apples, split skin around middle of each apple. Place apples in microwave dish. Melt butter in small bowl on maximum power for 12 seconds. Stir in sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Fill each apple with mixture, add water to dish. Cook, on High for 4 to 5 minutes. Add honey and serve.
My favorite recipe is applesauce cake from allrecipes.com:
ReplyDelete* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup cornstarch
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup fat-free plain yogurt
* 2 egg whites, beaten
* 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
* 1/4 cup raisins
* DRIZZLE:
* 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
* 1 teaspoon water
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Combine the applesauce, water, yogurt, egg whites and almond extract. stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins.
2. Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
3. For drizzle, in a bowl, whisk confectioners' sugar and water until smooth. Drizzle over cake.
And I'm from SC! :)
2 c. sugar
ReplyDelete1 c. shortening
2 eggs
3-1/2 c. flour
2 c. oatmeal
2 c. raisins or chocolate chips
1 c. chopped walnuts
2 c. applesauce with 2 tsp. baking soda added
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and blend well. Add remaining ingredients and blend. Drip by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
Apple Walnut Bread (from All Recipes)
ReplyDeleteIngredients
* 3/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1/4 cup applesauce
* 3 eggs
* 1 3/4 cups white sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups peeled, cored and cubed apples
* 1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, stir together oil, applesauce, eggs, sugar and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, sift together flour cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Gradually stir flour mixture into wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Fold in apples and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 70 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean.
2 cups peeled, chopped apple
ReplyDelete3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
1.Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf pan.
2.Combine apples, sugar and oil in a medium mixing bowl. Add egg, mixing well. Combine dry ingredients in a separate mixing bowl. Add to apple mixture, mixing just until the dry ingredients are moist. Stir in cranberries and walnuts.
3.Spread batter evenly in loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
Makes 1 loaf.
p.s. i'm from vermont :)
...and this is julie c..it's making me anonymous :(