Wednesday, September 23, 2009

In-Season Swap: Apples

Apples. Yum.



I love apples.

Crisp. Juicy. Flavorful.

Bliss.

God was brilliant for creating apples.

Today's In-Season Swap focuses on apples (in case you hadn't guessed). We are just at the beginning of the apple season, and I'm looking forward to a full season of enjoying apples in their many varieties. These treats are some of my favorite fall foods!

I've been reading a great book - How to Pick a Peach - and the chapter on apples helped me to understand the shift in the apple market over the years. The US used to produce almost entirely Red Delicious apples; this apple now only makes up 1/4 of the apples grown and harvested on US soil. Did you know that Gala and Fuji apples are only 20 years old? Really. The apple market has exploded in the past few decades. With all these new varieties of apples, there are a myriad of different flavors and textures achieved that make some of our favorite fall foods:







In addition to just using apples as the main part in a dish, applesauce makes a great addition to baked goods as a replacement for oil!




Or, for a myriad of other desserts....! Yum.

However, one of my favorite ways to enjoy fall apples is in a simple apple pie!




Mom's Apple Pie - From the kitchen of my mom


Crust*
1 C flour
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
3 T olive oil
1 T butter, melted
1-3 T cold water
(note: this makes 1 crust, double to make a second)

Filling
~6 apples (any good cooking apple)
1/2 C sugar (or less, depending on the tartness of the apples)
2 T flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

To prepare the crust, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Use a fork to cut in the oil and butter until the dough is crumbly. Slowly add enough cold water to get the dough to hold together in a ball. Roll out the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap to create an 11-inch crust. Freeze for about 10 minutes before using.

While crust sets in the freezer, core, peel and slice your apples. Toss in a large bowl with sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.


Remove crust from the freezer and carefully form into a 9-inch pie plate. Fill pie crust with apple mixture. Top with remaining crust, sealing to form an edge. Slice a few slits into the top crust, and place pie on a cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 for 45ish minutes, until apples are bubbly and crust is browned. If edges brown too quickly, cover the edges of the crust with tinfoil and continue baking.

Happy Apple-Season :)

Check out what others enjoy making during the fall at URS: Fall Favorites Edition, at Stop and Smell the Chocolates Fall Fruits Festival: Apples and at Our Krazy Kitchen's Fall Season Recipe Round -Up.  


*Crust recipe is adapted from Taste of Home's Light and Tasty.

19 comments:

  1. So many wonderful ways to use apples. Apples are yummy so I bet these recipes are also.

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  2. Its really the best time of year in Michigan! I know we went apple picking one year near E.L., but I don't remember where! There was also a corn maze, which was extremely fun!

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  3. I love apple season!!! I really don't like to think of it as fall, but apple season. Fall sounds sad, because it a time when all the leaves fall and summer gardening is over. Oh well IT'S APPLE SEASON!!! and all the YUMMY!!! recipes for apple come out of the old recipe box and new ones are added. THANKS!!! for he YUMMY!!! recipe.
    Geri

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  4. You're making me want to pull out all my fall apple recipes! These look fun and delicious!

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  5. There is something about fall - and apples - that gets a cook's blood flowing. I suspect it's the aroma of apples cooking that does it. Whatever the cause, you can't help but love apples. I love your recipe.

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  6. oh wow! I am drooling! If only I could eat apples - I miss them so!

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  7. Apple woes - I never had a problem with apples (LOVE THEM!!!) until about 6 years ago. I had one slice of an apple with some caramel at a football game. The rest of the night I was doubled over with stomach cramps. Ever since then, even a teaspoon of applesauce just incapacitates me. It's amazing how many fruit juices are mostly apple juice too. I keep praying to be able to eat apples again. I keep testing.... no deal yet!

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  8. I am licking my lips...these all look delicious!

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  9. Thanks so much for all of the apple links! They are one of my favorite fruits. I could eat one every day and not get bored, especially with all of the different varieties! That pie looks fantastic - definitely one of the best ways to enjoy apples.

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  10. What a great group of apple recipes! Apples are a big favorite at our house, and I'm so glad Fall is finally here!

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  11. make sure you make some spiced apple jelly with all your leftover peels and cores ^_^

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  12. So many great apple recipes! That cherry apple crisp is really making me drool! Thanks for linking it up!

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  13. Those all look great! I'm all over that crock pot apple cobbler.

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  14. Wow! What a great list of apple recipes!!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Many blessings!

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  15. What a wonderful collection of fall apple recipes! Thanks for adding it to the party at The Krazy Kitchen! :-)

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  16. So many wonderful apple recipes! This is a great roundup; glad to see easy Crock Pot recipes, too. :-)

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  17. thanks for all the great apple recipes

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  18. Wow, what a delightful assortment of yummy deliciousness! Thanks for sharing your great recipes.

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Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear from you; especially how you're finding JOY in your kitchen.

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