Apple Butter 2010

The Tenney family got together in Webster Springs, WV this past weekend to make this year's kettle of apple butter. It was a COLD morning (the first heavy frost we have had this fall) but that didn't stop the cooks as they all headed outside to light the fire and get the party started.

I think this is the first year that I have not participated at all with the apple butter. I was sick, folks. I think I was awake a total of 7.5 hours yesterday. So it's probably better that I wasn't involved. But as you can see below, Patrick took over camera duties and did a very good job recording this year's fun.

In the beginning....there were lots of tubs of homemade applesauce!



Patrick and Clarence worked hard to get the applesauce into the kettle. Just look at that concentration!

Once it was all in, the stirring began. Everyone took a turn (again, I was the only Tenney not to handle the stirring thingy....not sure what it is technically called, but to me it looks like a weird looking fork). The girls were super excited to help out once again. They sure didn't let a 40 degree morning put a damper on their parade! They played outside a good bit of the morning. Below are the Blounts getting involved with the stirring...

Julia Aleese

Amy and Chris

and Kole Alexander, who at almost 11 months is probably the youngest Tenney to ever stir the pot!

Then it was Morgan's turn to help out...

...helping Nannie

...and Daddy!

And of course the Tenney patriarch, Ralph, had his turns too.


I am not exactly sure what Lola was warning us about here, but it probably had something to do with tasting the apple butter before it was done.

And after about 4.5 hours of cooking, it was done! Here are the kids diving in to get a taste of the still warm, fresh apple butter.

YUM!

The end result? 91 pints of apple butter canned, 4 very sticky kids, and a family happy to be once again enjoying time around the apple butter kettle.

And for the record, I am feeling MUCH better today, thank you for asking. :)