How to Make "Apple Pie" (zucchini) Pie Filling

When your garden is giving you more zucchini than you know what to do with.......... Do the American thing and ....Make apple pie!!

Large Zucchini! You are going to need about 10 cups of diced , seeded, peeled zucchini, so you may need about 3 large zucchini. You know they are there.....look under those jumbo leaves!

Peel and dice zucchini making careful effort not to get any seeds. This will ensure your "apple" dices will be nice and firm for your pies! Continue with this until you have approximately 10 cups of diced zucchini.

2 cups apple juice or cider

3 cup of sugar

1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

2-3 Cinnamon sticks

In a heavy large sauce pan, put the five ingredients and simmer until sugar is dissolved.

Add diced Zucchini and simmer for approximately 10 minutes.

In a large canning pot with rack, place clean jars and lids in boiling water to sterilize, making sure water covers your jars. I used (2) quart jars for this batch. When I am canning a small batch like this one. I often will have several quart jars filled with water to help raise the level of the water, so that means less trips from the sink to the canner with water! I also helps with the possibility of those pressure veggies to tip over in the canner. This last thing that this methods is helpful for is; I now have several sealed sterilized water in case I should need in an emergency! When ever we empty a jar of canned goods, I fill with water and seal in HWB. Next canning task will be simple, I will be starting with clean jars! (Don't forget a splash of vinegar in your canning water for clear jars and easy cleanup!)

1. Put 2 Tablespoon of lemon juice in each sterile quart jar.

2. Fill jars with zucchini and syrup, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.

3. With moist paper towel, wipe jar rims to remove any syrup, this will insure a good seal.

4. Place sterilized seals and rings in place, finger tighten and place in canner with boiling water.

5. Bring back to boil and Process for 15 minutes.

6. Remove from canner and wait for the "ping"!!

They are now ready for your recipes!

I made this apple pie with my filling. I added some pecans, just because I like them! My hubby said it was very delicious. My mom said if I didn't tell her it was zucchini, she would never have know it wasn't apples!!