An Apple A Day Will Still Do The Trick

It’s harvest time and apples are appearing everywhere. They make great snacks all by themselves, but they can also be inviting side dishes or desserts for warm family meals on these cool autumn evenings.

We’ve all heard the cliché . . . but it’s true. An apple provides an important source of nourishment (potassium and pectin, a fiber that may be helpful in reducing cholesterol levels!) and offers no fat, unless of course, it’s dipped in a ton of caramel! Apples are one of the most widely cultivated tree fruit, grown on every continent except Antarctica.

Since way back in the Garden of Eden, the apple has been the source of conversation, pleasure and sustenance, bringing notoriety to the “first couple” and other notables such as Sir Isaac Newton, William Tell, John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) and Snow White.

There are literally thousands of varieties of apples with colors ranging from various shades of red to green and yellow and their flavor varying from tart to sweet.

There are many ways to use this versatile fruit in the kitchen, where apple pie has become an American tradition; apples are used in making jelly, juice, applesauce, cider and vinegar, not to mention countless ways for baking and cooking.

Here are a few new ways you can use an apple or two . . . sure to bring smiles to those you serve.

The Best Ever Apple Dessert

Sugar cookie dough (just enough for a crust)
1 pkg. (8oz.) cream cheese, softened
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ tsp. vanilla
2 medium Granny Smith apples
1 cup lemon- lime soda
Cinnamon
¼ cup caramel ice cream topping
½ cup chopped peanuts

Make “crust” out of cookie dough by patting into pizza pan or 9 x 13-inch baking dish and bake until just lightly browned; cool completely.
Blend cream cheese, peanut butter, brown sugar and vanilla together until smooth. Spread on cooled cookie crust. Peel, core and thinly slice apples. Dip apple slices in lemon-lime soda to prevent browning. Arrange apple slices on cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Warm caramel topping and drizzle over apples. Sprinkle chopped nuts over top. Cut and serve. Store any leftovers in fridge.

Too Easy Apple Cake

1 package yellow cake mix
1 can Apple pie filling
3 eggs
3 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch cake pan. Combine cake mix, apple pie filling and eggs. Beat 2 minutes with mixer at medium speed. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Spread half the batter into the pan, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, pour over remaining batter and sprinkle with the remaining sugar mixture. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

(This recipe is great for a last minute dessert. If you want larger chunks of apple, just blend the ingredients with a spoon instead of mixer. I’m thinking that adding chopped nuts with the cinnamon/sugar mixture would be good, too. And of course, whipped cream or ice cream on top would be perfect.)

 

Sugar Free Apple Pie
(Made with Honey)

Crust: (or use one already prepared)
2 cups plain flour
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup shortening
6 Tbsp. cold butter
¼ cup ice water
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Quickly mix all ingredients; refrigerate at least for an hour.

Filling:
3 apples
2 Tbsp. butter
Pinch salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. corn starch
2 Tbsp. raisins
9 oz. of honey
(Nutmeg or cloves, optional)

Peel apples, core and slice. Mix with remaining ingredients. When ready for the honey, add about half to the apple mixture, taste it, and only add enough until you are happy with the sweetness. If making your own crust, roll out half of the dough, put into pie pan. Add apple mixture. Roll out other half of crust and cover apple mixture, cutting little vent holes in top of crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until lightly browned

 

Shrunken Apple Heads
(Just for fun!)

These wrinkled fruit faces can be inserted on a wire and cloth body to make spooky figures for later in the month! Just peel a large apple, doesn’t matter which color or kind.

Coat the apple with a mixture of 1/3 cup lemon juice and 1 tablespoon salt. With a potato peeler or knife, carve out eye sockets, a nose, a mouth and ears.

Stick in “clove eyes” and “rice teeth.”

Place the apple on a rack in a warm, dry place for about 2 weeks. The face will “take shape” as it shrinks and hardens.