Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Intriguing, Inspiring Apples






The apple tree is blooming! Fresh apple pie and tarts are on their way. Applesauce will be prepared and canned to use during the winter and early spring.

There’s a middle ground in preparing apples that requires additional work. It’s a fantastic way to prepare a treat for friends and family who have lost their ability to crunch and munch because their teeth can’t take it anymore.

I remember watching my father-in-law trying to pretend he was satisfied with jars of baby food once he lost his teeth from cancer treatments. Even though apricots with tapioca tasted good to me, a perpetual diet of liquefied foods would never be my choice.

The solution? Softened bits of peeled, diced apples cooked with tapioca and spices. I’m a firm believer of aromatherapy, and spices like nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and allspice are among my favorites. A bit of lemon juice perks up the dish if the person’s taste buds aren’t what they used to be.

Just one apple will do the trick!



Here’s a recipe for one. Just add an extra apple for each person. I grit my teeth when I use the measured amount “dash” because it means a different amount to every person. My unofficial description of “dash” is a quick, visible sprinkle.

Three excellent apples for this saucy, slightly munchy treat are Winesap, Jonagold, and Pippin.

Apples My Way (an original recipe from me)

Ingredients

1 large apple
Dash of cinnamon
Dash of cloves
Pinch of nutmeg
1 Tablespoon instant tapioca
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Sweetener to taste, if desired

Instructions

Rinse off the apple. Cut and core. I use a corer/slicer because it’s handy. You can also slice the apple in half from top to bottom and cut out the core as you cut additional slices.
Trim the peel off the apple (yes, there’s a tool for that, although I don’t have one).
Put the slices on a cutting board and finely dice them.
Put all the ingredients EXCEPT the tapioca into a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and bring the water to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add the tapioca. Stir the mixture and cover the pan. Remove the cover to stir every few minutes. It takes about 15 minutes to soften 1 diced apple and slightly longer if you’re cooking more than one.

Refrigerate any leftovers and heat them in the microwave for 10- 15 seconds before serving again.

The delicious fragrance floating through the house brightens up everyone’s appetite. Make up a separate pan with apple slices or chunks. Apples My Way are just that – perfect for each person in the family as a snack, dessert or main course.


Which is your favorite type of apple?

20 comments:

  1. I love all apples. I think granny smith are my favorite ones!

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  2. I love apples, they are one of my favorite fruits. This sounds like a great way to enjoy them.

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  3. I wish I had a apple tree in my yard. I don't really have a favorite kind of apple, they are all good. Thanks for the recipe.

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  4. I wish we had an apple tree. I'd have a couple of Fujis. Those are my favorite apples.

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  5. Ah apples are huge favourite in my house. We go through pounds a week. I love all the different type but royal gala, macintosh and granny smith are my favourites! - Jeanine

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  6. I would love to have an apple tree near my home, especially if it produced Galas or Pink Ladies. Your apple recipe sounds like a great dessert idea.

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  7. OMG, I have never seen that! I only ever noticed the apples hanging from the trees, I never am near those trees when they get the flowers that come first! Thanks for this!

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  8. I love to make apple sauce. It always smells so amazing when it is cooking. Apple pies are wonderful as well.

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  9. Yum! I may have to try apples like that. I've never used those spices with apples before!

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  10. I love apples. Gala apples are my favorite, but I also like the pink ladies. I bet my kids would love this recipe! I'll have to try it!

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  11. I've never tried the apple sauce, but I'm sure it's delicious and my family would also love it.

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  12. Yum! This sounds so good. I'd love to have apples in my yard. My favorite at the moment is Honeycrisp.

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  13. Last year I totally missed apple picking season. This year I'm determined to go out with my family. Your recipe sounds just perfect for the bounty I'm sure we'll collect!

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  14. I really love apples. We have a bare spot in our yard after removing some ugly overgrown bushes and I am thinking of planting an apple tree in that spot.

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  15. Is it odd that I've never even heard of any of these kinds of apples? They do look delicious though, would love a homemade apple dessert

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  16. Fruit trees...double blessings. They not only have flowers that smell amazing, but then they have fruit! What a blessing to pick fresh fruit and bake homemade pies.

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  17. I haven't had apple tart in a good long while. I'd like to have some though. :)

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  18. I love apples. They especially make a great dessert and snack. Your recipe sounds delicious!

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  19. You are going to have me try to make a pie this weekend. Those look so good!

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  20. I could eat apples all day, every day! I need to take the kids apple picking soon!

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