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Apple Recipes: Sauce, Cider, Salad
Orchard to table recipes
by Annie B. Copps
VIDEO: Annie's Apple Recipes
Apples big / Apples small / And guess what? / I like them all. I picked up that ditty as a wee girl in nursery school, but decades later I still crave the tart flavors and crisp snap when I bite into my favorite fall fruit. I prefer some varieties over others, but as the poem goes, "I like them all."
From sweet to savory interpretations, few ingredients are as versatile as the apple.
Fewer still are as healthy--an excellent way to get a tasty wallop of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. And they're important to dental health, too. As our mothers often told us, "Apples are nature's toothbrush."
Arriving at supermarkets and local farm stands as early as August from the hundreds of apple growers who help define our region, 'Ginger Golds' are firm and juicy, getting sweeter a few days after picking. 'Empires' have a distinctive snap. The 'McIntosh' is the Miss Congeniality of apples--who doesn't love a Mac? 'Cortlands' stay fresh a long time and are the most versatile. 'Granny Smiths' are a deliciously tart import that we've adopted as our own. 'Honeycrisps' are my personal favorite for snacking; I prefer 'Libertys' and 'Macouns' for pies and sauce. And when it comes to hard cider, 'Kingston Blacks' are what I look for.
This is the perfect time to pack some bread and cheese and head off on an apple-picking adventure. Kids go crazy when hoisted upon a grownup's shoulder to grab the prize from a craggy bough. And then there's the undeniable satisfaction of hiking through the orchard, hanging out in that special autumnal light.
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RECIPES
Orchard Applesauce
Fruit Recipes
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 4 cups
Eat from the jar, or pair with grilled pork chops or potato cakes.
- 8 assorted apples
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tablespoons apple or pear brandy (optional)
Peel and core apples; cut into big chunks. Place in a medium saucepan and toss with lemon juice. Add cider, sugar, and cinnamon; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes. Discard cinnamon. Mash to the consistency you prefer. Stir in brandy. Cool to room temperature; then cover and refrigerate.
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