All Day Apple Butter

It seems all I am doing these days that is worth reporting is cooking. So here is my latest recipe.

I made this and it couldn't have been any easier. The more varieties you use the better it will taste. I used Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Pink Ladies, and Granny Smith.
The original recipe can be found here. In my recipe below I adjusted the amounts of spices the original recipe called for.

All Day Apple Butter

5 ½ pounds apples - peeled, cored and finely chopped
1 ½ cups sugar
1 – 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Place apples in a slow cooker. Combine sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt; pour over apples and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown, stirring occasionally (stir more frequently as it thickens to prevent sticking). Uncover and cook on low 1 hour longer. If desired, stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Spoon into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Cover and refrigerate or freeze.

Great new soup ... Beef Barley Soup

I was tired of all the normal soups I make so I went searching. I found this on recipezaar and it totally lived up to all the great reviews. We loved it.

Beef Barley Soup

1 lb stew meat

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

4 cups beef broth

4 cups chicken broth

3 cups water

2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 large carrot, diced

1 stalk celery, sliced thin

1 cup quick barley

1 (1 ounce) package au jus mix

Heat oil in large Dutch oven and cook stew meat until just barely cooked through. Drain fat from meat. Add onions and garlic. Cook for few minutes.

Add broth, water, and seasonings. Simmer for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours for beef to become tender. Add veggies and cook for another 15 minutes. Stir in au jus mix and add barley. Cook until barley is tender. (If it's the quick barley it'll take about 10-12 minutes.) Salt to taste and serve.