The kids are going back to school, the temperature is beginning to drop and the weather is starting to cool off, and the leaves will soon be changing color.
This is a sign that the seasons are changing and with that, certain foods and flavors and starting to become more popular.
While everyone will already be jumping in their cars to rush to the pumpkin patch and grab the biggest pumpkins they can find, there is a fruit that also is associated with the changing season that is reaching peak season and deserves a time to shine; the apple.
Did you picture a shiny red apple, sitting on the teacher's desk? No, you didn't do that. Must be just me, growing up as the child of a school teacher, that I imagine all children handing apples to their teachers the first day of school. Anyway...
Apples don't always get the respect they deserve, especially as we get older. The old saying "A doctor a day keeps the doctor away" actually does have some merit to it. They are a great source of fiber and loaded with many vitamins that promote many health benefits, including heart health, diabetes, bone health and weight loss.
Now, everyone knows about the red apples, but that's not the only type of apple there is. As a matter of fact, there are different types of apples that come in red skin. Let's take a look at the various types of apples available:
Red Delicious: These apples are crunchy and mildly sweet and are the world’s favorite snacking apple. The heart-shaped apple features a bright red and sometimes striped skin. Renowned for its crunchy texture and mildly sweet flavor, this tasty apple shines in cool, crisp salads.
Gala: The Gala Apples is crisp and aromatically-sweet featuring pink-orange stripes atop a pretty yellow background. These are especially delicious in salads, pies, and sauces.
Fuji: These are crunchy and the super sweet apples in the family. The Fuji can be enjoyed as an everyday snack as well as in pies, sauces, baking and more.
Granny Smith: Known for their green skin and Crunchy and Tart flavor, the Granny Smith apple is very popular. It’s a go-to apple variety for snacking and is a favorite of pie bakers. They are also great in other recipes, such as salads, sauces, baking, freezing, and more.
Honeycrisp: Pleasantly crisp, sweet and juicy, this popular apple features a beautiful bright red skin mottled with pale green. Its complex flavor is subtly tart, and is a versatile ingredient for recipes ranging from sweet to savory. As a snack, Honeycrisp apples burst with juice with every bite, and they are also a delicious addition to salads, pies, sauces, and baked goods.
Pink Lady: A beloved favorite by snackers and bakers alike for its unique sweet-tart flavor and firm, crisp flesh. Named for its bright pink skin, this versatile apple is great for eating fresh as well as in salads, pies, sauces, baking, and freezing.
Golden Delicious: A perfect pick for any recipe. Sweet and mellow, this crisp apple has a tender golden skin, and its flesh stays white after slicing for longer than other apple varieties. Reach for a Golden Delicious as an all-purpose apple for snacking, salads, baking, freezing, sauces, and more.
So how do you eat apples, other than in apple pie, covered in ice cream? Well, you'd be surprised. They are a favorite snack for children, especially paired with peanut butter to dip it in. They also are a fresh way to add crunch to a salad. You can saute them in a sweet caramel sauce for a easy dessert. And, one of the most popular ways to make them, cook them on the side with pork chops!
We about the love of apples over here, so let's keep that doctor away and eat them!
Comments