Here is a favorite recipe for apple butter, along with a beautiful shot I created for a winter catalog for my poster company.

The recipe is simple. Core and cube eight apples. Place them in a casserole baking dish or covered enamel pot. Add the juice and zest of one lemon and one orange. Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, half a teaspoon of ginger, a pinch of cloves, whole cinnamon, and star anise. Add 1/4 cup sugar. Add 1/2 cup of apple juice or water. Bake for 2 hours. Remove the large spices. Mash with a potato masher. Refrigerate.