Skip the store bought version of this recipe and spend a few minutes to make it from scratch. Potato pancakes and applesauce are not hard to make. The pancakes take a little arm work at the beginning but there is no reason anyone can't make them. This recipe might be more equipped for fall, especially the applesauce, but it's equally tasty any other time of year. More than that, it's filling and comforting. So while all you southerners might be enjoying 80 degree whether, us northerners still need sustenance for warmth in our 30 degree April climate.

The beauty of making your own potato pancakes is the control you have. The more or less flour used determines the density of the pancake. Obviously the less flour, the more of a hash brown or latke it will resemble. The more flour, the heavier the pancake and more doughy it becomes. You also can make them extra crispy, my favorite way to have potato pancakes. The inside will always be tender but the outer crust can get as crispy as you'd like.

Applesauce is so simple to make I'm surprised people even buy the store-bought kind. It's also much tastier and not weighed down by water or extra sugar. All it takes is a cinnamon stick and you're set! It can be made with or without peel. I like to peel about 3/4 of the apple. It leaves just enough of the peel to give the applesauce a reddish/pink tint and that tart flavor many people love so much. You can use any apples you prefer but when I'm cooking I tend to go towards Macintosh or Red Delicious.

Potato Pancakes
Ingredients
3 large potatoes, peeled
1 medium onion
1 egg, beat
4-6 tablespoons flour
1-2 tablespoons chives
1 tablespoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions
1. Use a cheese grater to grate the potatoes and onion into a large bowl. Use a paper towel to squeeze out any excess liquid. Add the egg to the potato mix and combine well. Add in flour, chives, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.

2. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Drop large spoonfuls of the potato mix into the flour and brown on each side. Serve with homemade applesauce (recipe below).

Homemade Applesauce
Ingredients
1 lb. apples, cored and chopped
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves

Directions
1. Peel apples as much as you desire, core and roughly chop them. Place in a pot with a cinnamon stick and cloves over low to medium heat. Let cook for about 5 minutes and mash with a potato masher. Add a tablespoon of water at a time if the mix is too thick. Let simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes until flavors incorporate and the sweetness comes out of the apples. Remove the cinnamon stick and cloves. Mash once more if necessary.