By Hannah Pecoraro
October Days
There is a certain glow to the sun, in these October moments. We just begin to notice the new shortness of the day, and the chill of an early morning breeze. Leaves cling to their verdant shine of summer as they tumble into new colors of golden autumn days; morning dew hangs heavy on the blades of grass that still wait to bask in the warmth of the day for a final time. Tucked among the green bed of grass, there lies a glistening, autumn apple. A sweetness of an autumn harvest, the apple has fallen to the ground in wait of someone to enjoy its rich toils of summer. Through chilled mornings and changing leaves, an apple is a grand gift of autumn.
The Gift of Autumn Apples
In reception of this gift, we feast joyfully in the flavor the apples offer to these October days. Apple cider, caramel apples, donuts, and a fresh apple pie—the treats with which we celebrate the new season of autumn. However, of course, we should never forget the crispness of a fresh red apple plucked directly from a tree—the true sweetness of a harvest.
How We Celebrate
While not all of us have apples waiting to be harvested in our backyard, the next best thing is filling a brown paper bag with apples from a nearby farmer’s market. Crates are bursting with apples this time of year, and there are so many ways to make the most of this season; certainly, baking a cinnamon spiced apple treat is the best way to enjoy the apples of autumn! Try one of these apple recipes to help celebrate the season:
Apple Crisp
10 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored and sliced (Approximately 3.5 lbs)
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons water
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, melted
Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the sliced apples in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, and cinnamon together, then sprinkle it over the apples. Next, pour water evenly over the apples. Then, combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and mix with a fork until crumbly; sprinkle evenly over the apple mixture. Finally, bake in the preheated oven until apple filling is bubbling, and top is golden brown, crisp, and caramelized around the edges, about 45 minutes. Enjoy the delicious apple treat! (Recipe from Allrecipes)
Caramel Apple Dip
16 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
1/4 cup water
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese
1/2 brown sugar
Melt the caramels with water in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave, stirring frequently. Then, remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Next, beat the cream cheese and sugar together in a medium bowl until fluffy; fold in caramel mixture. Enjoy right away! (Recipe from Allrecipes)
Apple Bread
3/4 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, or more to tast
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups of apples, peeled and chopped into 1/4-inch cubes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Whisk the sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together in a medium bowl until well combined; add to the sugar mixture and stir until just combined. Then, stir in the apples until evenly combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cover the loaf pan with aluminum foil; continue baking until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes more. Cool briefly in the pan before removing to cool completely on a wire rack. (Recipe from Allrecipes)
