
Unlike the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, or Florida, California was pretty much a lock for Mr. Obama from the outset. I didn't get a single phone call to try to win my vote. Even when I went to vote last Tuesday, I wasn't harassed for being a liberal or a conservative; I was, however, harassed because I don't like stickers.
After I voted, an impossibly-perky, election worker armed with a roll of stickers stopped me on my way out:
Perky young election worker: Wait! Wait! You forgot your "I Voted" sticker.
Me: Oh, no thank you.
Perky young election worker: You don't want a sticker?
Me: No, thanks.
Perky young election worker: But how will people know you voted?
Me: Well, as long as I know I voted, right?
Perky young election worker: Well, at least take a sticker for your husband. (Jabbing the stickers towards me.)
Me: No thanks. He won't want a sticker either.
Perky young election worker: (Now drawing attention to us from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents) But how do you know he doesn't want a sticker?
Me: OK. I'll take his sticker.
Perky young election worker: Are you sure you don't want your own sticker?
Me: (fearing for my safety) OK, sure. I'll take a sticker.
I felt like I was in the Seinfeld episode when Kramer refuses to wear the AIDS ribbon during an AIDS walk:
Feeling patriotic (and now safely away from intense polling girl), I decided to go home and make an all-American apple pie. Then I remembered that I really don't like making pie crusts that much, so I made all-American apple sauce instead.

This Cranberry, Raisin, and Walnut Apple Sauce is a variation on my basic homemade apple sauce. It gets a kick of flavor from tart cranberries and sweet raisins. Enjoy it as is or serve it warm with a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream. After all, ice cream always gets bi-partisan support.
Homemade Cranberry, Raisin, and Walnut Apple Sauce
Yields 5 cups, cooked
Print recipe only here.
8 McIntosh, Rome Beauty or other sweet apples (about 8 cups), peeled and chopped**
1 cup fresh cranberries
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
3 cups water
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
Place all ingredients from apples through nutmeg in a deep pot. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes, or until the apples begin to break down. Lower to a simmer and cook 15-20 minutes, or until the apples are completely soft. Stir well with a spoon until a thick sauce forms.
Leave a few lumps and bumps in it or puree it in a blender for a smooth finish. Just make sure to let it cool first before pouring it the blender! Stir in the raisins and walnuts. Let the sauce cool before serving.
**Like Jeff's mom, Dorothy, of Dorothy's Broccoli Pasta and Italian Almond Biscotti, I leave the skin on one or two apples to impart a warm reddish color to the sauce. If you don't like the texture of the skin, you can puree the sauce until it dissolves.
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39 comments:
Great applesauce. Maybe she thought you needed a sticker so you could get your free starbucks coffee for voting:) Those darn sticker pushers.
yum!! sounds great :) those are some shockingly aggressive sticker pushers!
I am so tired of talking politics and having "friends" scream at me for voting for the "wrong" candidate! I don't stickers or signs on my lawn and no more tv ads please!
Let's just talk PIE.
Thank you.
When I get approached on polling day I just talk in Greek! They avoid me that way!...LOL. Great sauce and I love the line about ice cream needing "bi partisan support". How true!
Don't you just hate those obnoxious perky people! I probably would have told her to take that sticker and stick it you know where!
That applesauce looks great, though. Such a lovely color! Who needs pie crust? ;)
I'm a bit of an applesauce purist: apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, period. I always make it with the skins on the apples, to get that wonderful pink color.
After all of the voting problems 4 and 8 years ago, it is a relief to hear that a sticker was the biggest issue of the day.
Beautiful applesauce! While I'm not a big fan of eating applesauce, I have certainly been known to make some in the slow cooker just for the aroma that fills the house. mmmm!
That vanilla bean ice cream and this apple sauce - that sure gets my votes!
No sticker should be just as fine as taking a sticker in my book.
Hm, I guess Louise is right. I would take the stickers and dump them in the nearest trash can. WHO?! WHO DOESN'T WANT TO WEAR THE STICKER!? Ha ha ha.
I will have mine with some caramel ice cream please! Yum!
Loved reading the dialogue...
love the colour of your sauce..Do the cranberries lend that colour to the sauce?
I get a paler pink when I leave the apple skins on..
Love the spices in the sauce...suped up it is!
I think you should make Food Blogga stickers to promote the blog! lol
I will wear one.
A really tasty apple sauce! Delightful!
Cheers,
Rosa
I loved the colour of the sauce. Lovly pink shade. The sauce sounds gr8....gonna make it for sure.
I don't even need the video reminder. ;)
"WHO!!?!?
WHO DOESN'T WANT TO WEAR THE RRRRIBBON?!"
You actually 'have' to wear a sticker after you vote??? Let me just say there are a lot of differences between Europe and the USA ;) I would definitely say no too.
Love that Seinfeld episode, and love the pink apple sauce!
So funny! Your applesauce is unique! Love it!
You should come vote out in the country - they didn't even offer us stickers. ; )
Gorgeous applesauce!
How could you not want your own sticker;)!?
I love the color of this applesauce... gorgeous!
Susan - Your election bit was pretty funny. When you get tired of cooking, you could do stand up! Luscious looking apple sauce too.
Sounds like a perfect, and delicious remedy to Election "sticker shock!"
I love the beautiful homemade look of your applesauce. It just captures the taste of fall!
I love the way this apple sauce sounds. I bet it's good on some pork chops.
I had the opposite experience last Tuesday BTW. Since I voted by mail, I misplaced my sticker that was enclosed with the ballot. Everyone was asking me if I voted & I was a little annoyed by ALL the questions so I dropped by the polling booth at my kid's school to ask for a sticker.... They gave me a look of mistrust before reluctantly giving me a sticker. Geez!
I can't wait to try this recipe! Mmmm... You're right, I bet it's divine atop ice cream.
xoxox Amy
I thought that such things would just happen here lol You really made my night Susan! :)))
DELISH! I think your harrassment was the worth the applesauce that it inspired :)
I was one of those perky election workers pushing the stickers. I'm pretty sure there were a few people who didn't want the sticker; I still made them take it. I don't know... I just have really strong feelings about the stickers - if it helps motivate someone to come vote (and it does, I know that), I view it as a really cheap good thing. It's like getting a gold star when you're a kid in school - maybe it didn't mean anything to some people, but it did mean a lot to others.
Btw something is waiting you here Susan!
Absolutely hilarious story - really! Good thing you made applesauce tho - right?
-DTW
www.everdaycookin.blogspot.com
Oh this was funny--Andrew was proudly sporting his sticker on election day and I kind of laid into him about it (they're stupid and self righteous) :)
Long debate about those stickers and I would have liked to see you take her down!
Guess I failed while adding the link. Just check the post "E for What?!" post dear.
Are you really finding McIntoshes and Rome Beauties at San Diego farmers markets?! If so, are you willing to share your secret and tell us which ones? All I can find right now are Fujis, Granny Smiths, and few Pink Ladies.*
(This comment reads way more risque than it actually is, huh?)
*Pink Ladies are pretty fab, though. They are my second favorites, after macs. ;-)
Great look applesauce. I should give it a try. I still have lots of apples!
Loved the Seinfeld clip. Hadn't seen that in a while and I had a good laugh. Thanks!
lisa- Whaaaat? I want my sticker!! I was robbed out of a free coffee!
heather-No kidding.
stacey-PIE sounds good right about now.
peterg-That is too funny.
susan-Pie crust is overrated. ;)
lydia-Well, I like to change things up now and again.
louise-Seriously. ;) Isn't that aroma positively enticing?
tanna-Mine too!
mark-Caramel ice cream? Where's mine? :)
rachel-The cranberries and the skins actually since the skins were pretty red.
peterm-You're so sweet.:)
rosa-Thank you!
VIJ-Yay! Great to hear it.
ts-:) :) :)
linda-Maybe I should vote in Europe next time. ;)
maryann-Thanks a bunch!
susan-Now that's just un-American. ;)
dani-Thanks! :)
foodalogue-You are too kind. :)
tw-It was!
lynn-Oh, thank you kindly.
amy-That is funny. Seriously funny.
bal-Oh, I'm so happy to hear it.
maris-Yum! Thank you!
kimu-Good point. I'm sure you're right.
bal-I'll be right over! :)
darius-Thank you!
michelle-Honestly, the smart money would have been on her. ;)
bal-Got it!
elinoire-No, I found them at Henry's Marketplace. I love Pink Ladies!
debbie-Please do! :)
elaine-Oh, good. I still laugh every time I see it. :)
I just recently made a batch of apple-cranberry sauce; it's such a pretty color, isn't it??? Love the addition of nuts.
Oh your sticker story is hilarious! I gave mine to the kids.
LOL, I remember that Seinfeld scene very clearly :) Susan, I missed your cookbook giveaway deadline, it's not like I'd have won anyway! but that persimmon date cake looked amazing... I have to look out for that cookbook...
This time of year I find myself tossing a handful of cranberries into everything from applesauce to chutney to mincemeat. Ever notice how there's always a handful left sitting in the fridge after making a recipe that calls for 2 2/3 cups or some odd amount? Yours looks prettier than mine ever does-Like, "elegant and stuff".
I didn't have the sticker problem as my three year old started shouting as soon as we walked in "Where's my sticker?!" Which sort of charmed the (very) elderly poll workers in our town of a few hundred people.
http://www.eattheblog.blogspot.com
Wow - talk about not taking no for an answer!! She should be in telesales...!
Love the sauce - apples with cranberries is inspired, and what a glorious colour :)
I love making applesauce when apples are in their peak during the season! I love the photos and your blog in general. Nice to find another foodie!
-Bon Apetit!
Alex
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