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.
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. Get my
FREE ebook about making vinegar here.
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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This post has been shared at some of my favorite blog hops.
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Love these ideas!!! Thank you, I will be sharing on my fb page too.
ReplyDelete-incidentalfarmgirl-
Thank you for sharing!
DeleteThanks for featuring me. And these are all lovely recipes. I don't know what I want to try first!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Kim. Let us know which one you decide to try first!
DeleteThey all look so delicious! I'm off to check out a few of them.
ReplyDeleteI think they all sound good, Deborah. Which one will you try?
DeleteIt's an honor to be included here! And now I wish I had a few more apples to try out some of thee other recipes! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katharine. Yes, we need more apples now.
DeleteThese are great! I'm about to embark on my first apple cider vinegar making :) And I'll have to make the apple salsa this year too!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your vinegar-making, Delci.
DeleteThank you! I hope I know what I'm doing. But it can't be too hard to let apples and water ferment. Lol :)
DeleteI've made vinegar. My first attempt failed, and maybe my second one did too, but eventually it worked, so don't lose hope.
DeleteMy favorite non-standard is apple/swt onion/swt pepper relish. Sweet enough to be wonderful as a dessert salsa, tangy enough to great with most meats but pork & sausage are the best. My first batch ever of ACV is on the counter (one more week), I'm appalled now at all the cores & peels I've wasted over the years. Jan in NWGA
ReplyDeleteThat sounds intriguing, Jan. Apples can be used in so many ways I've never even heard of. I bet you'll never waste another apple peel again.
DeleteWhat a great collection of ideas for apples! I always used my cores and peelings for making jelly, but I love these suggestions, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find something to try here, Jamie.
DeleteI have used my leftover cores and peels to make Apple Scrap Jelly also. I use red apples, so the jelly has a nice rose blush color to it And the taste is excellent. It usually gels without adding extra pectin as well. I want to try making some apple salsa. Thanks for the ideas.
DeleteYour apple scrap jelly sounds so pretty!
DeleteGreat ideas Kathi-The apple salsa sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt sure does. I'm anxious to try the apple salsa too.
DeleteAwesome post, Very informational! Thanks so much for sharing with us on the Homesteader hop!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jamie.
DeleteThere are some great ideas there! I'm pinning to my Pinterest "Apples" Board for future reference. Mine are still ripening.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pinning these ideas, Michelle.
DeleteGreat ideas and resources! We went apple picking last weekend and I have been busy making apple pie fillings for the freezer, apple butter, applesauce, and apple chips. Now I have ideas for using more of those apples - thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Michelle.
DeleteApple salsa sounds intriguing! Posts like this would be great for the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop! http://www.skipthebag.com/2016/09/waste-less-wednesday-blog-hop-92116.html
ReplyDeleteI'll do that, thank you!
DeleteThanks for sharing at the #WasteLessWednesday Blog Hop! I can't wait to see what you share next week.
DeleteThank you, Katy!
DeleteKathi, thank you for sharing my Taffy Apple Salad recipe. I'm going to have to check out the apple salsa recipe. I make all of our salsa and I think since we love peach salsa, we may just love apple.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lori. Your Taffy Apple Salad sounds yummy.
Deletemmm Apples! I have never had apple salsa! Sounds lovely! Will have to try it! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by!
DeleteLove these creative ideas! I can't wait to try Apple Salsa!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't that sound intriguing, Heather?
DeleteGreat ideas! I love the simmering potpourri - that would smell so good!
ReplyDeleteIt does smell pretty wonderful, Vickie!
Deletealright, you had me at the apple vinegar and apple salsa! I must try these this year! I am also going to dry and grind my apple peels into "apple sugar" and try to use them up for seasoning here and there too! Thanks for linking up at Apple week link party for Celebrate 365!
ReplyDeleteI know, isn't that apple salsa intriguing? I love the idea of apple sugar too, thanks for that!
Delete