What’s your favorite apple? Do you have a favorite? What’s your preference for pairings or preparation? Pies? Cakes? Or a nice nightly nosh of polished pomme with a good fromage and wine?
It’s that apple picking time of year and I confess… the last time I saw an orchard (or anything like one) has to be decades ago. Nonetheless, I have fond memories of an apple tree that grew on the edge of our property when I was a child, though the tree belonged to our neighbor. I used to marvel watching the fruit form and fill out and ultimately fall to the ground. (I have no idea what sort of apples they were, nor if they were anything more than crabapples, but I always found them beautiful.)
Not being an overtly “outdoorsy” person — stop sniggering, those of you steeped in stories of my stiletto sensibilities — this time of year nevertheless makes me long for the sweet scents of autumn air, surrounding myself in nature, and reveling in fruitful flirtations… those that lead me to languish over listings of bountiful orchards, pumpkin patches, and other havens of harvesting happenings in which the public can recreationally indulge.
Appleplectic!
Besides, my heart is heavy this week, consequence of the current political landscape. I find myself both baleful and brooding. And so, as a sort of sanity check (and cleansing breath), I turn my virtual pen (and preoccupations) to alternative areas of activity — namely, pondering pleasures for the palate as well as the eye, the nose, and the hand.
Thus, my aspirations to attend to the ubiquitous apple, too often taken for granted.
First, let me admit that I adore mulled cider (spiked or not) as the weather cools down. Second, come October, I typically fill a bowl with green apples to brighten up my kitchen or dining table, and of course to snack on. Third, the number of phenomenal and easy-to-make apple recipes is astonishing. (And I do like to bake, truth be told.)
But if I had to choose among the apples I love to eat — whatever the season — well, how could I?
How Many Types of Apples, You Say?
Once upon a time, I was raised on Red Delicious. We had them in our bag lunches. We gave them to our teachers. We munched on them after school. Never a McIntosh fan (too soft for my taste), as an adult, I branched out to Braeburn (heaven), fell for Fuji (divine), and oh the tartness of a good, cold, crisp Granny Smith!
Thinking that by this time I had at least tasted most of the major varieties of apples common in the U.S., I realized I was sorely mistaken when I delved a little deeper. I’m guessing I’ve had a dozen or so types over the years, but that’s not even a blip on the apple radar.
May I say that I was gobsmacked by the number of apple varieties that exist? According to the University of Illinois’ apple facts worksheet, there are more than 7500 apple varieties worldwide, and some 2500 in the U.S. alone. Holy (Apple) Cannoli, Batman!
Should I set myself a taste-testing task of broadening my palate’s present apple acquaintance, which is plainly paltry?
Best Apples for Baking
Curious about which apples best serve specific recipes, and aware that personal preference plays into everything (of course), I found this Farmer’s Almanac apple article to be informative.
According to the Almanac, if you’re gearing up for pie-baking:
… Many of us cook apples to use in a pie or crisp. For these baked goods, you need to use “firm” apples. Also, we recommend using more than one apple variety, such as a firm “sweet” apple plus a firm “tart” apple for depth of flavor.
Snacking Apples
Apples that are good for snacks? The most popular eating apple?
Clearly, I’ll happily pluck a Braeburn or a Fuji from the produce aisle (along with those Granny Smiths), but did you know… according to Wide Open Eats citing the U.S. Apple Association,
… the Gala apple is overtaking the Red Delicious as the most popular apple in America, with its production increasing almost 6 percent to 52.4 million units in 2018, passing Red Delicious production of 51.7 million units.
How do you like them apples!
Apple Expressions
By the way, have you ever considered the excess of evocative expressions that include or allude (or collude) when it comes to apples? For example…
- Apple of my eye
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away
- As American as apple pie
- Comparing apples to oranges
- The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
- One bad apple can spoil the barrel
And those are just a few that I could think of off the top of my head!
My Avid Apple Amour
I admit to apple amour that dates to my childhood, reinforced by my very first trip to France at age 15, which included spending one month in a tiny town in Normandy. There, I tasted calvados — apple brandy — a distinctive, traditional Norman apéritif. Naturally, I also enjoyed my share of apple tarts. Mmmmmm… They remain a favorite to this day.
Now, I’ve recently discovered organic mixed berry applesauce… healthy fare, ‘tis true, and I was surprised at just how scrumptious it is. I am not industrious enough to attempt to make my own applesauce this fall, but orchestrate an October orchard outing? Now that’s an idea that gets my juices flowing… I do wonder if orchards offer post-picking taste testing, not only of the fruit fresh from the tree, but a nice tarte tatin or other fruit-filled confection and coffee sounds sinfully satisfying, don’t you think?
One final note to add to the awesomesness of apples, though my now 20-something-year-old son would shake his head disapprovingly to know I was revealing this tidbit… I so love apples that I once dressed my firstborn as an apple tree for Halloween! Frankly, it was fun making the costume, he looked adorable, and he didn’t seem to mind too much at the age of five or six. Now if only I could find the pictures to prove the point! (I’m sure he’s glad that I can’t.)
All alliterative antics aside — what’s your favorite eating apple? Your apple picking proclivities? Any awesome apple recipes you’d like to share? And what do you do when you need a break from the worries of the world?
You May Also Enjoy
I like reinette and pink lady, as well as fuji.
Apples add nice crunch in salads….
And such a good snack–not too drippy or messy.
In salads, yes! (And in stuffing, too.) I’m not familiar with reinette.
So it’s the season as to the reason I found myself purchasing frozen Pepperidge Farm Apple turnovers! I’m not at all a fruit fan. Yet, here I am heating up these as my snack for today. First ingredient says Apples (unknown to what variety).?
Maybe so, TD! I think apples in any sort of baked goods make for comfort food (enhancing the “warming” quality).
Honeycrisp, September Wonder, Braeburn, Pink Lady. Any way, in anything. Love apples. And yes, they do say autumn to me. They also make great subjects for art and photography.
Pink Lady and September Wonder. Hmmmmm. I don’t know those varieties. (Have I led a sheltered life?) I’m going to have to check them out. And yes, excellent point that apples make beautiful subjects for photography as well as painting. Thanks so much for joining in and commenting!
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ENVY apples are wonderful. Just found this variety this year and they have a sweetness unlike any other.
I went apple picking last weekend, the orchard I go to has many varieties and they have the taste profiles listed depending on what is available that week. I prefer tart and crisp apples so I picked a bunch of McIntosh and Empire apples because they work for apple sauce, pie, and eating. It is a bit sad since apples are the last fresh fruit you can pick on your own, winter is coming soon.
As for apple references, there is the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, Adam’s apple. Also an apple falling from a tree inspired Isaac Newton to wonder if gravity extended out to the planets which ended with the theory of gravitation in the Principia. Beatles record label, Apple records and of course, the Macintosh by Apple.