fall fruit desserts Archives

THE BEST APPLES FOR BAKING

The Farmer’s Almanac

Name	Best Uses	Flavor Characteristics, Appearance
Braeburn	Applesauce	Tart, sweet, aromatic, tall shape, bright color
Cortland	Pies, Applesauce, Fruit Salad	Tart, crisp, larger than ‘McIntosh’
Fuji	Baking	Sweet and juicy, firm, red skin
Gala	Dried, Cider	Mild, sweet, juicy, crisp, yellow-orange skin with red striping (resembles a peach)
Granny Smith	Baking	Moderately sweet, crisp flesh, green skin
Jonagold	Pie, Applesauce	Tangy-sweet, Yellow top, red bottom
Jonathan	Applesauce	Tart flesh, crisp, juicy, bright red on yellow skin
McIntosh	Applesauce	Juicy, sweet, pinkish-white flesh, red skin
Newtown Pippin	Pie, Applesauce, Cider	Sweet-tart flesh, crisp, greenish-yellow skin
Rhode Island Greening	Pie	Very tart, distinctively flavored, grass-green skin, tending toward yellow/orange
Rome Beauty	Baking, Cider	Mildly tart, crisp, greenish-white flesh, thick skin
Winesap	Applesauce, Pie, Cider	Very juicy, sweet-sour flavor, winey, aromatic, sturdy, red skin

Fall isn’t quite here yet but when you see fresh apples in the farmers markets you know it’s coming quickly! Apples starting coming into the market in August actually.

Home made applesauce is so easy and oh so tasty, not like that runny stuff you get from a jar. It’s pretty much hands off cooking so try making your own today!

Here’s a quick little guide to choosing 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, which will ripen you’re other fruit faster. Some apples will keep weeks in the refrigerator. They will keep a few days on the counter.

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 ones blood stream. High in fiber, anti-oxidants, potassium, niacin and a variety of vitamins, apples are a near perfect fruit.

Apple Variety Guide

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, Kiku, Opal, Pink Lady, Sweetie

Apple Recipes

Applesauce

Apple Crisp

Apple Cake

Melissa’s Apple Fritters