If you haven't spent a lot of time in
the apple growing regions, you may not know how versatile this fruit
is. Apples come in all sorts of shapes, colors, and tastes; not just
the two or three you may know from your local grocery store's bagged
produce department. Apples grow in just about every corner of the
globe. Apples can be used in a variety of dishes from appetizers to
main dishes to desserts. Let's get down to the core and see where
apples come from and how they earned their rightful place in almost
every aspect of our dietary lives.
1. What is it?
Apples are the fruit borne from, well,
apple trees, of course. They come in various shades of red, yellow,
and green and most have a white flesh that varies in texture from
crisp to soft. Spanning the taste spectrum from sugary sweet to
pucker-up tart, apples are one of the more versatile foods in the
marketplace.
2. History
Apples have been around in one form or
another for over 4,000 years. They were first brought to the United
States in the early 1600's by explorers and settlers. Apples were
highly valued and became a staple food in most households because
they stored well fresh and were easily dried, then became the star of
the home-canning world. Today, apples are still treated the same way
– with appreciation for their versatility in recipes, ease of
storage, and variety of preservation methods. For these reasons,
apples are enjoyed by thousands around the globe.
3. Health Benefits
Apples have proven to be beneficial in
every health aspect from bone protection to alzheimer's prevention,
and even diabetes management and cancer prevention. The reason apples
are linked to all of these health benefits is because of the two
integral layers – the skin and the pulp – both being an excellent
source of vitamin C, just to name the most obvious and well known
nutrient. Along with the added nutrients, the things that are
missing from apples also make them noteworthy under the 'health
benefits' tag; namely, apples are fat free, sodium free, and
cholesterol free.
Pectin in the meaty part of the apple
helps manage diabetes by supplying galacturonic acid which lowers the
body's need for insulin. Phloridzin, a flavanoid found only in
apples, may help protect menopausal women from the frightening
occurrence of osteoporosis. A nutrient found in apple skins, boron,
has been found to strengthen bones.
4. Fun Facts
Apple trees can live for many years;
sometimes well over a century. There are more than 7,500 varieties of
apples grown in the world and about 2,500 of those are grown in the
United States. Red Delicious is the most popular and well-known apple
in the USA, with Golden Delicious following behind in a close second.
Granny Smith apples are fast approaching these two powerhouse apples
in popularity. The average American eats more than 70 apples a year,
and considering apples are free of fat, salt, and cholesterol, as
well as being a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C, it's no
wonder our doctors are trying to get us to eat one a day.
5. How to Eat Raw Apples
Eating a raw apple is as simple as
diving teeth-first through the crisp skin right into the sweet or
tart insides, and letting the juice run down your chin. If you wish
to give your teeth a more gentle approach, and keep a neater smile,
you can also core and cut the apple into wedges. Once you have these
juicy little wedges, you'll be looking for goodies to dip them into.
You don't have to look much further than peanut butter for a classic
snack.
Apples can be diced and added to a
fruit salad, tossed into a crunchy tuna salad with celery, or dipped
in chocolate and caramel (using your Cuisinart CFO 3SS ElectricFondue Maker) and topped with nuts. There are hundreds, if not
thousands, of ways to eat a raw apple. If you are lucky enough to be
around an apple orchard, then there is nothing like picking a ripe
apple from a tree, still warm from the sun, and enjoying each bite
right in the shade of the branches of the apple tree.
6. How to Eat Cooked Apples
You can get as fancy as you want or as
down-home simple as can be with apples. From apple pie to apple crisp
and apple pastries to apple omelets, cooked apples are a favorite
food around the world. Looking for something simpler than a pie?
Just simmer the apples until they get soft, throw in a little sugar
and cinnamon, and mash them into, you guessed it, applesauce. Eat it
as it is or serve over ice cream.
What if you don't have a sweet tooth?
Apples are often found in side dishes with cabbage, collard greens,
spinach, or other savory vegetables. You will find a delightful mix
of flavors when you add apples to a skillet full of harvest
vegetables, onions, and a splash of balsamic vinaigrette. And, don't
forget to try your hand at an apple glaze for your next pork
tenderloin. Think beyond apple pie and you'll discover a whole world
of recipes for your next bag of apples.
No matter how you decide to eat your
apples, just remember the old adage, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor
away.' Now we have the scientific studies showing all the nutrients
there are in apples, so there's no excuse not to add this versatile
fruit to your diet. Of course, that cool, crisp crunch of an apple
alone should convince you to take a bite!
