6 Uncommon Ways to Use Apples

My favorite season is autumn. Because I grew up in southern California, I discovered the magic of autumn after I was married and moved to the Midwest. Crisp fall days, colorful leaves, and apple picking were things I hadn't known before.

I love apple pie as much as the next person, but some years we have a huge harvest of apples from our little fruit orchard and I run out of ideas for using them all. After canning apple pie filling and making baked apples and apple jelly - we're not big fans of applesauce - I looked for more ways to enjoy them.

Here are six ideas that you might enjoy too.

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1. Here's a healthy recipe for Apple Jack Pancakes from the Rosevine Cottage Girls. The combination of organic and healthy ingredients make tasty pancakes with an apple slice in each one. Try these for a special weekend breakfast.

2. Use a mandolin to slice apples very thinly, then bake for Healthy Apple Crisps. This idea from The Hypertufa Gardener is sure to please kids and adults alike, and even if you eat the whole bunch, it's still good for you.

3. Even though this recipe from Frog's Lily Pad uses whipped dessert topping it would be a delicious splurge once in awhile. Apple "salads" are always a hit at potlucks so I'm adding this recipe for Taffy Apple Salad to my recipe notebook.

4. Apple cider vinegar is good for so many things: use it in vinaigrette, as an arthritis remedy, and as a hair rinse. Did you know you can make your own at home? It's just as healthy and it's kind of fun to make, I feel "pioneer-y" when I make my own vinegar each year. Even better, it uses the peels and cores that are left over from making other dishes.

5. Here's one I can't wait to try, apple salsa. I love tomatoes but peach salsa is so much better than the regular stuff. I hope this apple salsa will be just as delicious.

6. Another use for the peels and cores: make your own fragrant simmering potpourri. Package it up in pretty bags tied with ribbons and tags and give them as stocking stuffers or gift tie-ons to friends and family.

While I was searching, I came across a recipe for good ol' apple pie that I'm going to try as a change from my own recipe. This one, says the author, is for cooks with experience: Polly's Apple Pie from Home's Cool. I've never tasted a vinegar pie crust so I'll be trying the crust recipe Katharine links to in the recipe too.

What is your favorite way to use apples?

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