Latest, greatest apple recipes
Regina Murphy
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Last weekend was the annual Hetlinger Apple Festival, which launched a slew of apple celebrations here in town.
The fun continues with two Apple Palooza events today and Saturday at the Emporia Farmer’s Market, and then the Murphy’s Menu Cook-Off on Sept. 30.
Cooks, start your apple engines.
Apples are a member of the rose family. The earliest traceable apple trees were found near the Black Sea. According to www.allaboutapples.com, the average U.S. consumer eats an estimated 15.8 pounds of fresh-market apples, and 26.4 pounds of processed apples, for a total of 42.2 pounds of apples annually — each.
Apples are high in pectin, a soluble fiber that helps reduce cholesterol (thus helping protect against heart disease) and helps control blood sugar (which helps protect against Type 2 diabetes). As you know, “An apple a day...”
I hope to inspire you to make all kinds of things with your apples, and as an incentive to compete next week in the cook-off, here are some ideas on the kinds of things you might bring. The category is “Things made with apples,” which could be almost anything you like. Just keep in mind, the food will be sitting out for about an hour while shoppers taste and vote.
I remember as a child enjoying my papaw’s apple butter, and we always bought jars of it when we went to Silver Dollar City. Here is an easy recipe that makes great gifts over the holidays, too.
APPLE BUTTER
4 lbs. apples
For complete story see the print edition or the online print edition.