Homemade Apple Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

6 large apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar (to taste)

Preparation

Prep apples and if making a lot, squeeze a little lemon juice to prevent from browning. In a saucepan over medium heat, pour the apple juice and bring to a gentle boil. Add apples, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes or until apples are soft, stir often. Last 5 minutes of cooking, cover with a lid.
Remove from heat and mash mixture using either a fork, potato masher, immersion blender or food processor, until desired consistency is reached . Taste sauce and if needed, add sugar to taste - can also add a little ground cinnamon, freshly grated lemon or orange zest, a splash of lemon juice or Calvados, a pinch of ginger, cloves nutmeg or a little butter. I am a purist....
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for about a month. Pour into sterilized jars, then 15 minutes in hot water bath for pint-sized jars or 20 minutes for larger jars. Makes approximately 2 cups.