Apples Galore!

We asked our neighbor, after watching their apples ripen and fall to the ground, if we could come gather some of the fruit that had fallen. To our surprise and excitement they told us we could have all the ground fruit and pick as much as we'd like from the tree! LUCKY US! We gleened about 40lbs of small red apples!

Now, what to do with them?!

So far I have come up with:
dried apple slices
canned apple sauce
fresh apple sauce for desert tonight and to pack in kids lunches tomorrow
an apple pie
(insert your genius idea here)...

What else can I make with these tasties?

There is easily another 40lbs of fruit on the tree that we are welcome to, but I did not want to pick it all until I was sure I would use it!

Yellow Plum Jam

Yesterday the kids and I went to my parents house to glean some of their yellow plum bumper crop. I decided to try out yellow plum jam (I've never tried plum jam so I am excited) and dehydrate the rest.

I used the following recipe and made about 3 pints of jam.


Ingredients:
6 cups of sugar
4 1/2 cups of pitted yellow plums
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup water


Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil and dissolve the sugar. Stir constantly to prevent sticking. Cook for about 20 mins, or until the jam comes off in "sheets" when using an ice cold spoon. Pour, while boiling hot, into sterilized jars leaving about 1/8" head space. Seal and process in a hot water bath canner for 7 mins.