Mary- This is my first year trying pie filling. I think it will be OK though. We had a chance to sample some after processing and a few didn't seal. The recipe called for 1/2" head space, but it wan't nearly enough as many jars forced syrup out from under the lids. Four of the jars didn't seal, so I opened them, removed a bit of filling and re-processed for another 14 minutes (normal processing time is 20 minutes, but I just wanted the jars to get hot enough to seal). The apples I removed from those jars were still on the crispy side, so they should hold up well to baking. Of course, Jonathans are fairly hard apples to begin with so maybe they lend themselves better to this type of processing. I couldn't find Clear Gel anywhere, so I had to use Mrs. Wages Pie Filling mix. I was disappointed to discover that it had some spices in it. When I opened a bag I could smell cinnamon. I tasted a bit on my finger and cinnamon was about the only flavor it had. So, I spiced it up a bit. Here is what I did:
7 quarts of peeled, cored, sliced apples (Don't ask me why it ended up taking 7 quarts to make 6, but it did. I think it had to do with the apples packing better when in the syrup).
6 cups apple juice
2 bags Mrs. Wages Pie Filling mix
3-1/2 cups sugar (the recipe on the Mrs Wages Bag called for 3 quarts apples and 3 cups sugar. I thought that was WAY to much sugar so I cut it nearly in half)
1 tsp Allspice
1/2 tsp Ginger
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
Whisk the apple juice, sugar and Mrs. Wages together in a large sauce pan. Heat on medium heat until thickened. Add apples and fold in. Fill jars and process for 20 minutes.
Things I discovered:
1. I made two double batches. It didn't have any adverse affects at all. The Mrs Wages recipe on the bag only makes 3 quarts, so I sped things up a bit. Since you are not working with pectin, I didn't see the harm.
2. Mrs. Wages calls for 3 cups of sugar per 3 quarts of apples. My BBB doesn't have a canned version, but the frozen pie filling recipe calls for 2 cups for the same amount of apples and another recipe I found calls for 3 cups per 7 quarts of apples. I made a single batch using the bag recipe of 3 cups sugar. I taste tested it and nearly went into sugar shock. When I added enough ingredients to make it a double batch, I left out the extra sugar and tasted it again. Another 1/2 cup of sugar was perfect.
3. The allspice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves are my own personal touches to liven it up a bit as the Mrs. Wages seemed bland out of the bag.
4. 1/2" of head space is NOT ENOUGH! From now on I will use 3/4"-1" of head space. That filling expands a lot! It made a heck of a mess on the cooling towel (but tasted good off the side of the jars
)
I've come to the conclusion y'all can anything that doesn't get away from you fast enough.
That's funny! I figure, if I can find it in a can at the grocery, I can stick it in a jar at home. We don't have a cold cellar, so we have to make do somehow. I hate seeing anything go to waste.
Oh, and for those things that try to get away too fast, I have guns
