Who doesn't love a delicious, crisp apple? Especially as the seasons change and the weather starts getting chilly outside?
Apples are more than just one of the most abundant fresh fruits in the fall season. They're also jam packed with fiber and other nutrients as well. Most people tend to enjoy apples in one of two ways: either on their own, fresh out of the bowl, or as the basis for some delicious, homemade baked goods like warm apple pie.
These are great options, sure - but there are plenty of other unique ways to take advantage of these tasty fall treats. This includes a few of which may just surprise you. With that in mind, below are some of the best ways to use apples in apps, snacks, entrees, and more.
Cheddar Apple Butternut Squash Soup with Cinnamon Pecan Crumble
This one sounds like it might be complicated, but thankfully that couldn't be farther from the (delicious) truth. All you have to do is puree sweet, caramelized apples with autumn butternut squash, fresh thyme, and just a bit of milk. It's the perfect way to enjoy a nice, savory meal on a chilly fall day - all with a dash of sweetness as well. You can even add sauteed apples on top for the perfect finishing touch.
Apple Chips (with Optional Cinnamon)
If you've had a taste for some nice apple chips but don't have a dehydrator laying around, the good news is that you don't actually need one - all you need is a standard oven and a mandoline. First, take your apples and slice them as thinly as possible. You could always try to slice with a knife if that's all you have available, but you'll get much better results if you use a tool that is more precise like a mandoline.
Then, bake those apple slices for between one and two hours. The actual baking time will vary here depending on how thick the slices are and how crunchy you ultimately like your chips. When you're done, you'll be left with a perfect treat of your own creation. Most people find that they're good on their own, but you can also sprinkle some cinnamon on top during baking to really seal the deal.
Crown Roast of Pork with Lady Apples and Shallots
If you're feeling particularly daring (or if you just have a lot of time on your hands), you could make this delicious crown roast of pork with complimentary lady apples and shallots for a robust, unique experience. Besides the lady apples themselves, making this recipe is really as simple as any other roast you may have made in the past - albeit far more delicious thanks to the unique spin.
To find out about the exact ingredients you'll need, and to learn how to bring it all together in your own kitchen, view the exact recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit here.
Apple-Walnut Upside-Down Cake
If you love apple-based desserts but are growing tired of the old classics, you could always give this tender, nutty cake a whirl. The best part of all is that you can use the same cast-iron skillet to caramelize the apples that you then use to bake the cake, minimizing what you need on-hand and the effort that you'll have to go through.
This, too, is available via our friends at Bon Appetit and you can view the ingredients along with the exact preparation steps right here.
Hard Apple Cider Spritz
Last but not least, we arrive at this hard apple cider spritz - the perfect drink for a chilly fall afternoon (or to end off a fun fall evening as well). Here you'll need 16 ounces of dry hard cider, six ounces of apple cider, two ounces of rye whiskey, one ounce of Aperol, and one ounce of fresh lime juice. Note that this makes four servings of this particular drink.
Take your rocks glass out of the cabinet and fill it up with ice. For a single serving, just pour four ounces of the hard cider, 1.5 ounces of the apple cider, a half-ounce of the rye whiskey, a quarter ounce of Aperol, and a quarter ounce of lemon juice into the rocks glass. Then, fill the rest of the glass up with club soda right to the top. Gently stir to combine all of your ingredients and garnish the rocks glass with an apple slice.
If you're not the type of person who likes rye whiskey, don't worry - you can always substitute bourbon and get that same rich, apple experience.
As you can see, it's probably a lot easier than you thought it would be to enjoy your favorite apples for virtually every meal - not just at dessert. From snacks that you can pick at throughout the day to full-on meals to the perfect after-dinner drink for you and your friends, now you understand why it will be so important to keep that bowl of apples on your counter replenished all season long.
If you'd like to find out about even more fun and interesting ways that you can cook with apples this fall, or if you'd just like to learn more about the resort-style amenities, engaging social activities and other benefits that we offer to all of our senior care residents, please don't delay - contact Vista Springs today.
