Eat, Save, and Be Healthy

My family’s heritage is farming. Although only a handful of my extended family still farms for a living, we all look forward to the annual apple cider pressing. Everyone has their duties…the youngest cousins wash the apples in a large, metal tub (a fun but wet job!). Clean apples are cut and spot-checked by older cousins and aunts and then piled in a wooden press that has latest many generations. Whoever is feeling strong will hand crank the press, and the sweet cider runs out the bottom and into a large bucket. The liquid is strained through cheesecloth to remove any large chunks of pulp, and container after container is filled using a very sticky funnel and some steady hands. (We don’t sell any cider, as it’s not pasteurized.) It’s a great family tradition and way to enjoy the taste of fresh, fall apples. Here are some other suggestions for using apples this fall:

• gently cook apples and pair with pork loin (or roast them together in a crock pot)
• mix chopped apples in chicken or tuna salad with low-fat mayo
• place sliced apples in your favorite sandwich
• bake apple oatmeal bread
• apple compote (ready in time for Thanksgiving)
• bake whole apples stuffed with cinnamon, dried fruits and/or nuts, and a touch of brown sugar
• chop and simmer to make homemade, no-sugar added applesauce
• slice and pair with feta on top of spinach salads

The All-Recipes website has a listing of the type of apple that is best suited for each type of recipe.

Cheers, Julie