Fall in Love with Apples at the Orchard

A cool fall day calls for a bubbling hot apple pie in the oven to warm up the kitchen. And to get the most delight out of that pie, you must take your family to the apple orchard and bring home a bucket of hand-picked apples to enjoy. There will be enough apples to make apple salsa, apple pie, fresh applesauce, cinnamon apples, apples and squash, the options are really endless…all made from those fresh apples found at your local apple orchard. Start a new family tradition this fall and head to the local apple orchard.

Apples are easy to love because they are a good source of soluble fiber, which can lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Be sure to eat the skin for the most fiber! Fresh apples are also a good source of vitamin C — protecting your body’s cells from damage and keeping blood vessels healthy. Besides the nutrition in the apple, they are just plain good to eat. Here are some fun, family-friendly ways to add apples to your day:

Mini Apple Pies

Use a package of pre-baked mini phyllo shells for these cutie pies! Sauté 1 cup diced apples, ¼ cup walnuts; ¼ cup brown sugar or 2 tablespoons low-calorie sweetener brown sugar blend and 2 tablespoons butter over low heat until apples are tender, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Cool slightly and spoon 1 tablespoon of apple mixture into each mini phyllo shell. Garnish with whipped topping. Serve immediately.

Baked Apples

You can’t beat this sweet treat! Core the apple to within ½ – inch of the bottom, sprinkle in one teaspoon brown sugar and one teaspoon melted butter. Brush a muffin tin with canola oil, set apples into muffin tin and bake for one hour at 350 degrees.

Apple Stars

Cut the apple horizontally into thin slices so that you are able to see a star in the center of each slice (remove seeds as necessary). Spread with a thin layer of peanut butter and top with granola that includes dried fruit. Delicious!

Apple Harvest Salad

Slices of apples on a bed of spinach tossed with candied pecans, dried cranberries and light poppy seed dressing.

Caramel Apples

Need I say more?

Better get picking! Now is the time to head to the local apple orchard and make a delicious family memory.

Jen Haugen RD, LD is an award winning registered dietitian based in Austin, MN. She is currently writing her first book, focusing on growing healthier families through gardening and cooking together. She is also a media expert frequently appearing on ABC 6 News . In 2012, Jen was named Emerging Dietetic Leader in Minnesota by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She continues to be a leader in her field with her supermarket and media expertise, garden program development and nutrition experience. Reach Jen on Twitter @JenHaugen and check out her blog JenHaugen.com.