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Apples

History | Science |  Varieties | Availability |  Selection 
Storage | Complementary Spices  |  Preparation | Suggested Wines
Health Benefits | Apple Recipes

By Jennifer A. Wickes
Copyright 2002

History

Did you know that Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman on September 26th, 1774? He was known as Johnny Appleseed for spreading apple seeds all over Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois!

Science

Apples are part of the Rosaceae family. There are over 7000 varieties
of apples all over the world. They are grown in a temperate climate
across the world for over 3000 years! Washington State produces over 50% of the apples in the United States!

Varieties and Their Uses

Applesauce or Canning: Golden Delicious, Paula Red, Rhode Island
Greening and Spartan.

Baked: Braeburn, Gala, Gravenstein, Rome Beauty and York Imperial.

Pies: Granny Smith, Jonagold, Macintosh, Northern Spy, Romes and
Winesap.

Raw: Baldwin, Braeburn, Cortland, Criterion, Fuji, Gala, Golden
Delicious, Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Jonagold, Jonathan, Lady Apple, Macoun, Macintosh, Newton Pippin, Northern Spy, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, Rhode Island Greening, Stayman, Winesap, and York Imperial.

Available / Season

Because of all the varieties available from all over the world,
apples are available all year round, with a peak season from
September to November.

Selection

Select firm and bright colored fruit with smooth and shiny skin.
Avoid bruised, soft or shriveled fruit. It should have a fresh scent.
The color of the apple depends on the variety, from yellow to red.
Also, the sweetness or tartness ranges on the variety as well.

Storage

Keep at room temperature for a few days. Place unwashed fruit in a
plastic bag in the refrigerator for a longer period of time. If you prefer crisp apples, then apples will maintain their crispness better
in the refrigerator.

Spices

Allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, ginger, mace and
nutmeg.

Preparation

Depending on how you enjoy your apples, they can be eaten with the
skins on or off! The core is never eaten.

Suggested Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon, French Colombard and Zinfandel Blanc.

Health Benefits

Eating apples can keep the doctor away! Apples help lower bad
cholesterol and high blood pressure. It helps protect the arteries
and the heart. It also boosts good cholesterol, and helps stabilize
blood sugar. It has an ingredient that works as an appetite
suppressant, and contains flavonoids that are cancer-fighting
antioxidants. Because of its high fiber content, it helps relieve
constipation, but applesauce helps relieve diarrhea! Apples also help remove plaque from our teeth. It contains Vitamins A & C.

Recipes

Applesauce

4 Servings

8 apples, pref. Gravenstein, peeled, cored and cut into eighths
1/2 cup water
Sugar, to taste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

COMBINE APPLES AND WATER IN heavy-bottomed pan. Place over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally. When apples begin to get tender, add sugar to taste but be sparing until apples mash easily--that's when you can tell just how sweet you want the applesauce. Add lemon juice and cook until applesauce is ready to be mashed with fork. Remove from heat and add lemon peel. Mash with tines of fork, leaving some coarse texture. Serve warm.

Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format

Candied Apples For Halloween

10 Servings

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vinegar
2/3-cup water
1 package cherry kool-aid
10 apples

Mix sugar, vinegar and water. Boil until mixture reaches 300-degrees;
cool. Stir in Kool-Aid. Put apples on sticks and dip into mixture
quickly.

Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format

Scotch Apple Pie

8 Servings

1 cup sugar
1-1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice
18 soda crackers

TOPPING
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup flour

Boil everything together but the soda crackers for one minute. Add
crackers and boil again for one minute. Pour into regular piecrust.
Add topping before baking. Topping: Mix together and add 1/4 cup
melted butter. Blend with fork until crumb consistency. Sprinkle over
filling. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, reducing temperature to 325 degrees and bake 15 minutes longer.

Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format

Easy Apple Cake

12 Servings

FIRST STEP
4 Peeled And Sliced apples
1/4-cup sugar
1/2-teaspoon cinnamon

SECOND STEP
1/2-cup sugar
2-tablespoons butter or margarine, Soft
1 egg
1/4-teaspoon vanilla
1-cup flour
1-teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix together 1/4-cup sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon. Place a layer of apples in greased baking dish, sprinkle with half the sugar-cinnamon mixture, cover with remaining apples and cover with remaining sugar-cinnamon. Cream 1/2 cup sugar and butter. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Stir in flour and baking powder and spoon over apples, spreading it as best as you can. Bake 30 minutes. Best served warm, with v anilla ice cream.

Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format

Rich Baked Apples

12 Servings

12 whole peeled cored apples
1-cup chopped walnuts
1-cup sugar
1/4 cup seedless raisins
1 to 2 slightly beaten egg whites
1-cup finely ground dry breadcrumbs
1/3-cup light brown sugar
1-teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup melted unsalted butter

Combine walnuts, sugar, raisins, and egg whites-mix well spoon into the cavities of the apples. Combine breadcrumbs, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a shallow bowl-mix well. Moisten apples with melted butter. Coat evenly with the breadcrumb mixture. Place into individual buttered ramekins or custard cups bake @ 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot, topped with whipped cream or drizzled with cream.

Source: TJ Hill - Appetites Catered

This article was originally published at Suite 101.

Jennifer Wickes is the editor at "Cookbook Reviews" and "Cooking With The Seasons", which has been voted to be one of the Top 100 Culinary Sites on the Internet! For more information about Jennifer Wickes or her columns, please go to:
http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/CulinaryJen