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| Autumn in the Orchard |
by Rachel PaxtonApples, apples, apples! So many to choose from and so little time. So which is your favorite? Red Delicious are one of the most popular eating apples, and Golden Delicious run a close second. They're both crispy and sweet, perfect for kids' lunches or an after-school snack. Other apples are more tart and better for cooking and baking. Some of our family's favorites are McIntosh, Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, Jonathon, and Granny Smith. All make great pies, breads, muffins, and applesauce. So where should you store your apples? In a cool dark place. A good place is in the refrigerator in a well covered container (to keep them from drying out). Make sure to handle your apples gently to avoid bruising.
Apple Crisp 4 c. tart apples, sliced 3/4 tsp. cinnamon 3/4 c. brown sugar (packed) 3/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 c. flour 1/3 c. butter, softened 1/2 c. rolled oats Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8x8-in. baking dish. Arrange apples in the pan. In a medium-sized bowl, mix remaining ingredients with a fork. Sprinkle on top of apples. Bake for about 30 minutes, until apples are tender and topping is brown. ~*~ Apple Bread 3 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 1/4 cups oil 2 apples, chopped 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) 1 teaspoon baking soda Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients until well blended. Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans. Bake for about 1 hour. ~*~ Baked Apples Baking apples, uniform in size 1 to 2 tbsp. brown sugar per apple 1/2 tsp. butter per apple 1 tbsp. raisins per apple (optional) Cinnamon or nutmeg Conventional oven: Select some good baking apples that are uniform in size. Wash apples and remove the cores, but do not cut all the way down to the bottom of the apples. Peel the upper third of the stem ends of the apples. Place apples in a deep baking dish and put brown sugar and butter in the center of each apple. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg. Pour 1 c. water around the apples (or to a depth of 1/2 inch). Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or cold. Microwave: Wash and core apples. Cut a thin slice of apple off of the stem end. Make a shallow slit around the circumference of the apple about 1 inch from the bottom to keep the skin from shrinking while cooking. Place brown sugar, butter, raisins, and cinnamon or nutmeg in each apple. Place in a glass baking dish and cover with waxed paper. Microwave on high 6 to 10 minutes or until tender. 
Recommended ReadingA Is for Apple: More Than 200 Recipes for Eating, Munching, and Cooking With America's Favorite Fruit by Greg Patent It's hard to believe that bananas are the most popular fruit in the United States, followed by apples, but there you have it. Such small but telling details can be found in Greg Patent and Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's A Is for Apple. That, and every apple recipe you might ever want to try. (courtesy: Amazon) |
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About the Author: Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of the Creative Homemaking Recipe of the Week Club Cookbook, a cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, frugal living, and family fun, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com. |
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Let's Get Cooking!
