Country Kitchen:
Time For Apples Has Arrived
By Mary Emma Allen
Apple season has arrived, the time for picking fruit from laden trees,
visiting orchard and garden stands, taking children on excursions where
they can participate in apple related activities, and stirring up
traditional and new recipes using this fruit.
This becomes a time of frosty nights, colorful leaves, and days to enjoy
before winter comes. In my memories, and today with my grandchildren,
apple time of year becomes a very enjoyable one.
A Favored Fruit
Apples have long been a favored fruit in this country. As we hike through
farm lands gone back to forest, we'll find stands of apple trees. Along
stone
walls and country roads, the remnants of old apple trees may yield some
fruit.
The early pioneers dried apples to use for winter food. My mother canned
applesauce and slices for our cold weather meals.
Apple pie often is considered a traditional dessert in this country. It
even was served for breakfast in some areas.
Apple Cookery
Along with apple picking comes the creation of all those special dishes
with this tasty fruit. These might include homemade applesauce (a
favorite with my
grandchildren), pies, puddings, cakes, cobblers, and apple dumplings.
Recipes you might want to try include this one of my aunt's, who said it
was given to her by a neighbor:
SWEDISH APPLE PIE - Mix together 1 slightly beaten egg, 1 teaspoon
vanilla, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, pinch of
salt. Add 1 cup chopped apples and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and blend
well. (Some cooks like to add raisins instead of so many walnuts.)
Turn into a buttered pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 25 minutes.
Serve with whipped cream. My aunt served sweetened heavy cream over the
pie.
APPLE FRITTERS - This was a favorite supper dish my mom made when I was a
child. She often served it with ham, bacon, or sausage.
Mix together 2 beaten eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup cream (often used by old
time cooks instead of shortening).
Stir in sifted dry ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 1/2 cups flour, 2
1/2 teaspoon baking powder. Mix in thinly sliced or chopped apples. Add a
dash of cinnamon, if desired. Cook on a griddle as you would pancakes.
(Mother also made CORN FRITTERS by substituting corn for the
apples...another supper dish.)
(C) 2002 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing her "Cooking Column" for newspapers
and online publications for 30 years and
has compiled a family cookbook. She’s currently compiling a
cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
