Apples are the ultimate fruit, low in calories with no fat, sodium or cholesterol. The pectin in apples actually helps to dissolve the cholesterol in one’s blood stream. High in fiber, anti-oxidants, potassium, niacin and a variety of vitamins, apples are a near perfect fruit. To get the most of the nutrition from an apple, eat organic apples with the peel on, most of the pectin lies just below the skin.
How to choose and store your apples…..
Choose organic apples as apples have topped the Environmental Working Groups ‘Dirty Dozen’ list, which identifies the most pest laden fruit and vegetables. You’ll want to eat the skin of the apple as disease-fighting pectin (fiber) lies directly under the skin
Select firm fruit with no bruises or scars and treat them gently.
Don’t wash your apples until you’re ready to use them.
Keep them in a cool place, your fruit drawer of the refrigerator is fine but don’t store with other fruit. Apples give off a gas, ethylene, which will ripen your other fruit faster. Some apples will keep weeks in the refrigerator. They will keep a few days on the counter.
How to choose which to use for baking or eating? Here’s a quick list:
Cooking
Ambrosia
Braeburn
Cameo
Golden Delicious
Honeycrisp
Jazz
Jonagold
Jonalicious
Jonathon
McIntosh
Pink Lady
Red Delicious
Fresh Eating
Ambrosia
Envy
Fuji
Gala
Golden Delicious
Honeycrisp
Jazz
Opal
Pink Lady
1-2-3 Easy Applesauce
- 4 pounds mixed apples, choose a variety of sweet apples, wash, peel, core chopped into chunks.
- Apple Juice, real apple juice not concentrate or white grape juice (read the label)
- Cinnamon
- Sugar as needed
Place the chopped apples into a large saucepan and add about 1” of apple juice. Cook until the apples are soft and tender. If there is excess liquid after cooking the apples you can drain this off and save to drink as ‘juice’, that’s exactly what it is.
Mash the apples with a potato masher or put through a food mill. You could also use a food processor or blender. Add cinnamon to taste and sugar if needed. Keep hot or cool and store in refrigerator for a week.
That’s it!
