I think my mom used applesauce and spices but I really don’t remember. There are recipes online and some use dried apples that are cooked. I wish I could remember. My mom used to tell me to pay attention when she cooked because she wouldn’t be around forever. I wish I would have.
Thank you. The picture posted looked like to me apple-butter was used. Which as a kid growing up if we did not grow it can it or catch it we did not eat. And there were times when apple-butter was all there was to spread on pancakes or biscuits or toast. Course we did have butter as we had cows and made our own butter.
My grandmother's family came from TN to Missouri sometime in the 1800's. And they brought with them these cooking skills, if you had a cast iron skillet you would not starve.
Here is an idea for those recipes you do remember...
My mother made a binder with all the family recipes and gave it her kids her Christmas. It includes all the recipes from her monther and mother-in-law. She actually had her mother over and made her measure ingedients for her chicken and dumplings so it could be written down. I will treasure it forever and use it all the time...