Old-Fashioned Apple Butter

Ingredients

• 6 pounds apples, cored and sliced
• 2 quarts apple cider
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Preparation

1. Place apple slices and cider in a flat-bottomed kettle. Bring to a boil; cover and cook over medium heat 30 minutes or until apples are tender.
2. Press apples through a sieve. Return strained pulp to kettle; cook over high heat, stirring constantly, until pulp rounds up in a spoon. Add sugar and spices. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 hour or until mixture thickens.
3. Quickly ladle apple butter into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4- inch headspace. Cover at once with metal lids, and screw bands tight. Process in boiling water bath 5 minutes.