When visiting area orchards, you can taste and discover varieties that appeal to your personal palate. New York apples are grown close by, so they don’t have to travel a long distance and are fresh when you buy them. Buy local, support your area farmers and enjoy the crisp fresh flavor of delicious New York apples!

When selecting apples to purchase, look for nicely colored, firm fruit that is free from blemishes and still has the stem. Wash them thoroughly in warm water to reduce intake of pesticide residues and bacterial contaminants. Store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.

Apples are healthy! You’ve probably heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But did you know that an apple a day can keep weight gain at bay? According to one Penn State University study, people who ate an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who chose a different snack. Because they’re high in fiber, with 4 – 5 grams in just one apple, they help you feel full. Pectin, the soluble fiber in apples, also aids digestion; helps reduce high blood pressure; fights bad cholesterol in the blood stream and decreases colorectal cancer risk. And Harvard investigators found that women who ate an apple a day were 28% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women who ate none.

In addition to fiber, apples are a good source of important antioxidants and flavonoids — plant substances that help to remove free radical molecules, fight inflammation, and hold back cancer. Quercetin, one flavonoid found in apples, helps reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and macular degeneration. It is also effective in controlling asthma and acid reflux disorder.

One pound of fresh apples contains two large or five small apples, and is about three cups when cored, peeled and sliced.

Apples are very versatile; they make a great snack, can be used in both spicy and sweet dishes, and blend well with other fruit. Try adding them to green salads as well as fruit salads, or serve apple slices with cheese as a snack. Experiment by combining several apple varieties when making a pie or a sauce, rather than sticking to just one kind of apple.

Whatever you do, nothing compares to the sweet fragrance of baking apples! Yes you can make a pie, crisp, or apple Betty, but you can also just simply bake them for an easy, delicious dessert without all the fuss. And with the cool November weather, it is a pleasure to turn on the oven.

Baked apples are a great treat to make with your kids. Adults can core the apples; kids can make the filling and help stuff them. If you use shelled walnuts, kids can have fun cracking them open. Older kids can help chop large fruit like figs or dates, while younger ones will enjoy getting their hands dirty mixing the fruit with nuts and a bit of honey or maple syrup. You can use herbs like mint in the filling or add a little orange, lime or lemon juice to balance the sweetness of dried fruits and honey.

Unlike pie with its rich buttery pastry, baked apples are a low-fat dessert that combines fruit and nuts – or just fruit if someone in the family has a nut allergy. Of course, you could add sharp cheddar cheese for a flavor kick – but that ups the fat and the calories.

Stuffed apples are a nice presentation. But if you’re not handy with a knife, you can also just slice the apples, sprinkle with fruit, nuts and spices, drizzle with honey and bake in individual ramekins.

Baked Stuffed Apples

Ingredients:

6 apples

1 cups raisins (use golden or black raisins, dried cranberries, or even dried cherries or any combination of these)

1 cups walnuts, chopped fine

cup maple syrup or honey

Apple cider

Cubes of sharp cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions:

Using a sharp knife or apple corer, remove the seeds and inner core, leaving the apple shell intact. This is the tricky part; you need to be careful not to cut too far down. A grapefruit spoon with the toothed tip works well for this scooping. Grown-ups should do this part.

In a bowl, combine golden and black raisins, craisins (dried red cranberries), finely chopped walnuts (if using), and maple syrup or honey. Stuff the apple centers – it should take about half a cup of filling per apple. Kids can mix the filling and stuff the apples.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a little apple cider or apple juice on the bottom of a baking dish.. If you wish, you can drizzle a little more honey on top of the apples, or top each apple with a cube or two of sharp cheese. Bake, uncovered, until tender when pierced with a fork (30 – 50 minutes). Baste occasionally with the juice on the bottom of the pan, to prevent from drying out. Or, cover loosely with a tent of foil to keep some of the moisture in.

Remove from oven; let cool about five minutes to prevent burning your tongue on the hot apples. Serve as a dessert or snack, with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream. Serves 6.

E-Z Baked Apples

Ingredients:

6 large apples

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup black raisins

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup maple syrup or honey

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F.

Peel the apples. Quarter and remove the core. Slice the apples as for a pie and transfer to a bowl. Sprinkle first with lemon juice, then with cinnamon. Toss to combine.

Lightly oil 6 individual ramekins, or a cookie sheet or baking pan. Divide the apple slices among 6 individual ramekins (or spread out in baking dish). In same bowl, combine raisins and nuts; sprinkle over the apple slices. Pour the maple syrup evenly over all. Bake in oven 20 – 30 minutes, or until tender.

This version is easier than the above and just as tasty; it does not require removing the core while leaving the apples intact, which can be difficult. Serves 6.

Quick Microwave Baked Apple

Ingredients:

1 apple

cup raisins

cup walnuts

Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon maple syrup or honey

Directions:

Core an apple. Combine raisins and nuts and stuff into center. Sprinkle with cinnamon, and pour about a tablespoon of maple syrup into the center over the filling. Place in a small bowl. Add cup apple cider, apple juice, water, or orange juice. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, or until done. Makes 1 serving.

You can also peel, core and chop the apple, place in bowl, sprinkle with teaspoon cinnamon and teaspoon allspice and toss to combine. Add raisins and nuts and pop in the microwave for about 2 minutes.

Author of the award-winning cookbook Garden Gourmet: Fresh & Fabulous Meals from your North Country Garden, CSA or Farmers’ Market, Yvona Fast lives in Lake Clearand has two passions: cooking and writing. She can be reached at www.wordsaremyworld.com.