An Apple a Day

If you're one of our 12 regular readers - you know who you are - we hope you've been enjoying the October of the Apple. In keeping with our theme and as an homage to the age-old addage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," I present to you my five favorite quick and easy apple "recipes." Please do make use of them because, despite the fact that my last post was frying-related and the fact that vodka figures prominently in one of the following recipes, we here at Salty Sour Spicy Sweet care about nothing more than your good health and vitality, dear reader. Enjoy.

And, if you have an apple shortcut that you'd like to share with the rest of the class, please do speak up. Just bring enough to share with the rest of your classmates.

Speedy Apple Recipe #1: Instant Applesauce
Ingredients:
4 apples of your choosing, peeled, cored and sliced or chopped
The juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 T. sugar (optional...apples may be sweet enough on their own. You decide.)
2 - 3 T. Water

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and simmer over medium heat until desired consistency is acheived, about 12 - 15 minutes. If you prefer smooth applesauce, use a potato masher to take care of any heartier chunks. Enjoy.


Speedy Apple Recipe #2: Apple Blueberry Crisp
Ingredients:
5 medium to large apples of your choosing
1/2 pint fresh blueberries
2 - 3 T. Sugar (again, depending upon sweetness of apples)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
1/4 c. (1/2 stick) chilled butter, cut into cubes
1 c. oats
1/2 c. packed light brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9x9"baking dish. Toss apples, blueberries, sugar and half the cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Pour into greased baking dish. In a separate bowl, mix the brown sugar, oats, butter and remaining cinnamon wogether with your fingers until it makes a coarse meal. Sprinkle over the top of apple-blueberry mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.


Speedy Apple Recipe #3: Caramel Apple Sundaes
Ingredients:
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 1/4 inch pieces
3 T. butter
1 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

18 Kraft Soft Caramels, unwrapped

2 T. chopped, toasted pecans (if desired)

8 scoops vanilla ice cream

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add apples and toss to coat in butter. Sprinkle sugar and salt over apples and sautee until soft but not mushy, about 4 minutes.
Place caramels in a double boiler over simmering water and allow to melt, stirring occasionally. Do not allow to boil or scorch. Remove from heat and allow to cool about 3 - 5 minutes.

Divide ice cream evenly in 4 bowls. Spoon about 1/4 c. of apples over each. Pour a few tablespoons of caramel over the apples. Sprinkle on chopped pecans if you choose. A little whipped cream never killed anybody.


Speedy Apple Recipe #4: Apple-Cinnamon Infused Vodka
Note: I was inspired by my favorite local wine bar, Grand Cru at the Belvedere Market, to figure this out because their apple cinnamon martini made me so, so happy.
Ingredients:
1 Litre good vodka (it doesn't make sense to use very, very top shelf, but it also doesn't make sense to use rot-gut. Go with Smirnoff, Absolut or Stoli)
3 Red Delicious or Macintosh Apples, washed thoroughly and sliced.
3 - 4 Whole Cinnamon Sticks

One 2-Litre or larger airtight pitcher or container

Combine all ingredients in airtight container and store away from sunlight in a cool, dry place for 2 - 3 days, tasting occasionally until desired flavor is acheived. Serve ice-cold, martini-style with a tiny splash of cranberry juice for nice apple-y color and garnish with a pretty apple slice. Mmmmm.


Speedy Apple Recipe #5: Apple Pancakes
Ingredients:
1 apple of your chosing, peeled, cored and diced into 1/4" pieces
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cugar

1 regular recipe of your favorite pancake mix, such as Bisquick, prepared to package specifications.

Mix first 3 ingredients together in a small bowl. Stir into pancake batter and prepare pancakes on hot griddle as usual. Serve with good maple syrup.

For an extra touch, soften 1/2 stick of butter and thoroughly mix in 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. Slather on pancakes. I love that word...slather.


So there's your apple-a-day for the next 5 days. Apologies for the vodka, ice cream, caramel and recurring butter. That old addage is very open to interpretation. They really should have been more specific.