Garden Goodies: Apples!

Posted by Deb Puchalla

Apples and autumn just go together. Every year I drive with my family to a mom-and-pop orchard in Connecticut and pick more bags of Cortlands and Macouns and McIntoshes and various Deliciouses than anyone could ever want. Seriously, it's greedy  -- like 50 pounds greedy. Sometimes more is indeed more.

I bake with some apples, cook with others, and dole out the proverbial one a day to keep doctors away (Diane has more on that) to my husband and kids. I eat more than my share but share more than I eat. This year, our weekly recipe swap with Margaret from A Way to Garden -- did you see her on "Martha"? -- and our cast of merry cooks from bloggerworld will be my source for all sorts of sweet and savory ways to get the most out of this mainstay fruit. Cate, a fellow Twitterer, already went apple picking, and she needs some ideas tout de suite, so here goes.

A few weeks ago, I posted about fruit desserts that bridge summer into fall, with apples starring in the latter part of the show. Now that some leaves have a golden cast and others are crunching underfoot, apples take center stage. It's easy to think of them as dessert food, so let's go there first. There are so many apple pies I've known and loved (in addition, of course, to Mom's): deepest dish apple pie, old-fashioned apple pie, and one of my favorites, apple crumb pie, which combines the tradition of a bottom crust with the indulgence of an oaty crumbly topping. Apple crisp is a perennial favorite, too. But a showstopping caramelized apple tart is a force to be reckoned with, without much fuss. If I make all of those, I'll be several pounds in. But we'll be picking more, so what else?

Among friends, I'm intrigued by JeanAnn's crustless apple pie and am impressed and flattered that I got a suggestion for an Italian apple cake from Tuscany. But I still want to bake one of my pal (and EDF columnist) John Barricelli's greatest hits, his three-layer apple cake. Paige, up in the Hudson Valley, also has an apple cake she recommends -- thanks to Patricia Wells -- that sounds fantastic, with an eggy, custardlike batter that skews the results close to clafoutis. I'm curious about another blogger's smoked apples, done on the grill(!) with peanut butter. That's a good example, I think, of how simple ingredients are ripe for experimenting. (As an aside, I love love love apples and peanut butter as a snack. And why not start the day sweet, too? Maybe with Joy's oatmeal with honey-butter caramel apples, which no doubt would taste amazing and pitch perfect for a fall morning.)

The cool thing about apples is that they lean savory just as well as sweet. So when I have an abundance -- now, and when they're on sale from time to time -- I weave them into brunch, lunch, and dinner. They're a palate-pleasing ingredient that gets kids and grownups to eat the same thing, together, as a family. You can do as you like, but for my money I like to match apples with pork, whose flavor is complemented by sweetness. Who can tell me, was it Bobby or Peter on "The Brady Bunch," who was so into Alice's pork chops and applesauce?

Our barbecue kebabs with apples are great for right now, while we still heat up the grill pretty frequently, and our tenderloin with roasted apples and onions is good-looking enough to serve for a weekend dinner with friends. (Click here for a gallery of mains and sides not limited to ones featuring pork.)

When we have weekend daytime guests, the cheddar-apple frittata we ran in the magazine a while ago can't miss -- cheese and apples are another happy marriage of flavors. How about apples partnering with celery in a family-friendly creamy apple celery soup or in a quick side: celery and apple salad with pecans? I love how this fruit, well, gets along with others. Now, Cate, I don't want to be pushy. Margaret, you, too. There are a few days between now and when I get to the U-pick-it. Can you try something from here and let me know how I might narrow my pickings? After all, there are only so many apples ... so, so many apples.

APPLE RECIPES, SWEET AND SAVORY
Apple Crumb Pie
Rustic Apple Tart
Applesauce Cake
Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Apples and Onions
Applesauce Cake
Pork Chops with Apples and Shallots
Pork and Apple Stew
Apple and Cheddar Frittata
Barbecued Pork and Apple Kebabs
More Apple Recipes

As an aside, I know not everyone is here in the northern half of the country, so for those of you still reaping what you sowed, go back and check out our past fests: herbs, green beans, cukes and zukes, tomatoes, and corn. See what you can do with what's left and let's get together next Thursday for the tail end of our series. Let's call it Last Call. See you then, and in the meantime, follow me on Twitter.

Comments

[Melissa]

Yum! It's Apple-a-Day Week on my blog and so far I've featured Apple Spice Cookie Bars and Cidertinis - now on to Chicken Apple Leek Soup, Rum Spiced Cider, Apple Doughnuts and Baked Apple Pancakes!

[Karen]

I am from VT and LOVE apples. Apple picking, apple eating, apple cider making, apple baking and cooking. A very common snack in my house growing up and now is apple slices with peanut butter and cheddar cheese. So surprising and SO good! I ate it almost every day for both of my pregnancies

Here are two of my past posts about apples. One for VT apple Crisp and one about Apple Sauce.

http://peckedbyducks.com/2008/09/03/first-day-of-kindergarten-vermont-apple-crisp/

http://peckedbyducks.com/2008/07/24/wicked-smaht/

[Christie@fig&cherry]

How about an apple and macadamia nut crumble with custard? Yes please!!

http://www.figandcherry.com/recipes/all-women-blogging-carnival/

[Joy]

The deepest dish apple pie looks heavenly! I'll have to make that when I go back from our vacay.

[Paige]

On the subject of savory apples, a restaurant I profiled for Gourmet's Restaurant Guide, The Student Prince, in Springfield, MA (it's in the October issue, out now) serves unbelievably good sauerkraut made with apples and pork. It's heavenly...maybe I'll try to get the recipe from them to share!

And as to crisp--I make a wonderful apple/pear crisp with ginger and pecans based on an old, old Bobby Flay recipe that was in New York magazine nearly twenty years ago. I'll put it up on my site later today. Yummmm!

[Kim]

I just made a Fresh Apple Pound Cake with coconut and pecans. Itis perfect as a breakfast cake with a hot cup of coffee. Next time, I am going to top it with the Caramel Glaze that I used for my Southern Buttermilk Cake for a sweeter version.

http://ayankeeinasouthernkitchen.com/2008/09/23/fresh-apple-pound-cake/

[sandygluck]

I interviewed Jayne Cohen, the author of Jewish Holiday Cooking, about Rosh Hashonah meals - the Jewish New Year is almost here. She brought a few different types of apples from the farmers' market (mine are winesap), along with 4 different honey for dipping slices. The tradition is for eating a seasonal fruit to usher in the New Year and having something sweet to guarantee a good one. Here's hoping! And deb, I'll have to share my mom-in-laws apple cake with you. Big fat chunks of apples in a tender buttermilk cake topped with streusel.

[Alison]

Um, Sandy, I think you should share that recipe with all of us -- it sounds delicious!

[laura]

Is that a Brady who called it, "Pork chooops and appleshauce"? :)

My favorite you-pick orchard presses cider on weekends. Their entire harvest was derailed by a freeze this year, boohoo. But I'm not willing to go apple-less, so I have boiled cider, which could go sweet or savory: http://www.eatingwellanywhere.com/?p=161

[Deb Puchalla]

one of my best kid memories is of the Goods across the street--in the fall they brought out some big barrel/cider press thing and put all of their apples from Mr. Blozie's farm--seconds, probably--in it. yum cider! so nice to see you all here. apples are so easy to work with and delicious, be sure to share your links. (BTW Melissa, your bars look delicious but I was distracted by the adorable tiny baby feet as I scrolled down!)

[SaintJer]

I like the BBQ pork and apple kebabs. I am in the land of apple pie and I get plenty. Not so many kebabs down this way.

[Tina Taber]

How about apple dumplings? Delicious.

Made a post about my squeezo machine that helps make apple sauce and tomato sauce. Go here to see pictures www.belleadorn.com

[JeanAnnVK]

Hi Deb! I am usually so busy storing my veggies and fruit this time of year that I don't have time for complex recipes...so I developed "Crustless Apple Pie". Who has time for a crust? Easy to make and soooo delish...here's the link...hope you like it!

http://www.portlandfoodie.com/2008/09/crustless-apple.html

[Jaden, Steamy Kitchen]

Warm Apple and Fig Flatbread!
layer gorgonzola, figs and apple slices on a flatbread, grill on BBQ (or broiler) 4-6 minutes, top with shaved parm and a

sexy.
luscious.
drizzle.
of.
honey.

http://flickr.com/photos/steamykitchen/2870278407/

[Alanna @ Kitchen Parade]

Just today I posted a perfectly simple -- and simply perfect! -- apple cake, http://kitchenparade.com/2008/09/estonian-apple-cake.php.

[John - Mormon Foodie]

Hey! I am "another blogger!" ;) I'm flattered, too.

Okay, Jaden. I'm impressed. The apple and fig flatbread looks waaaay delish.

[Sandy S]

When I have lots of apples, I make fresh, warm applesauce every a.m. for my kids - it's much easier than it sounds! Peel, core, and dice one medium apple per serving and place in micro-safe bowl; drizzle with a little honey, a couple of tablespoons of apple juice or water, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover with plastic wrap, poke a few holes in it with a fork, and microwave for about 2 minutes, until the apples soften and break down.
Stir, let cool slightly, and serve. Can add a dollop of vanilla yogurt and sprinkle w/ granola if desired. Yum!

[Zoë François]

Lovely. I can't wait to go apple picking next week and dive into all the fabulous recipes. I'm working on a whole wheat apple cider donut.

It has been fun following you on Twitter!

[nhnursery]

We just celebrated our apple festival in Nebraska City, NE this past weekend. Not only did we purchase some apples for pie making I had to buy some apple turnovers to take home. Along with some apple doughnuts and a couple of freshly made caramel apples.

[Dayna]

Hundreds of posts and hardly an apple post among them...
I have the classic candy apple post:
http://veganvisitor.wordpress.com/2007/10/28/apple-lollipops/
Also well known as "Apple Lollipops" around these parts - but needless to say, thank goodness for all these great suggestions. We're off to the orchard tomorrow!!

[Wicked Good Dinner]

We're headed to the Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA in just a few weeks for a long weekend - I can't wait to try some of the recipes you posted!

-Dawn

[Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening]

Nothing fancy, just good food made with our apples: carrot salad, tomato curry, a couple of pies and apple crisp for a crowd:
http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2008/09/25/our-best-apple-recipes/

[Cate O'Malley]

Deb, you are totally awesome! I made homemade applesauce tonight (I will never buy store-bought again!) and now with all your wonderful suggestions, I need more apples! Good thing we're going apple picking again next weekend. :) Can't wait to start cooking through the recipes here.