Earl Grey Applesauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 earl grey tea bag
1 1/2 lbs apples (4 medium)
1/2 vanilla bean
8 prunes, pitted and chopped
1 pinch of grated lemon, zest of
1/3 cup sugar
1 pinch clove
fresh lemon juice, if desired

Preparation

Pour 1/3 cup boiling water over teabag in small cup and let steep for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel, core, and wedge apples.
Combine apples and tea in a medium saucepan, discarding bag.
Split vanilla bean pod and scrape seeds into pan.
Add bean pod.
Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring a few times.
Add prunes and lemon zest and cook at a moderate simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
(Remove from heat when apples are starting to break up and are soft enough to be mashed.) Remove vanilla bean.
Mash apples with potato masher to whatever consistency you prefer.
Stir in sugar, cloves, and lemon juice, if desired, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Serve at any temperature desired.