The days are getting shorter, the cool weather is setting in, and the landscape is transforming into its beautiful hues of red and orange. Autumn is setting in upstate New York, and with the onset of autumn comes many of New Yorkers’ favorite activities. In the early weeks of fall, apple picking is a great way to have fun with the family, both at the orchard and at home.
With New York growing more apple varieties than any other state, according to the New York Apple Association, you’ll be able to pick just the right apple for anything. Whether you want to make a pie, applesauce, savory salads or you just want some apples to snack on, you can find the apples you need right in New York!
Here are a few ways you can enjoy tasty apples this fall.
Perhaps the most iconic fall dish is sweet, spiced apple pie. The scents of cinnamon and nutmeg take you right back to Grandma’s house, watching the rainbow of leaves fall outside the window as she cuts you a big warm piece of her amazing apple pie. You can find the perfect apple to recreate that tradition with your family, right at one of New York’s many apple orchards. Taste of Home recommends using sweet Honeycrisp apples and complementing them with cinnamon, cider, lemon juice, and allspice for a pie that can’t be beat.
Sometimes, nothing is better than a nice bowl of applesauce. Sweet, delicious, and more healthy than traditional desserts, applesauce can be a fun dish for you and your family to make from scratch. In Ree Drummond’s applesauce recipe, she recommends using a variety of apples to give your applesauce a rich, complex flavor. Drummond recommends Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious apples, but feel free to use whatever apple varieties you like!
Maybe you don’t have much of a sweet tooth and the pies, cobblers, cakes, and sauces just aren’t for you. There are many ways to use apples in your favorite savory dishes too. Try the New York Apple Waldorf Salad with New York Empire or Cortland apples which are more resistant to browning than other apple varieties. You can change up any of your regular salads with apples too for a different texture and satisfying crunch.
Sometimes, you just want to have a quick snack with no preparation at all. At New York’s apple orchards, you can find the perfect apple to snack on too. According to the New York Apple Association, Honeycrisp and Gala apples provide the perfect taste for kids and picky eaters, while Fortune and SnapDragon apples pack a sweet and spicy flavor that more adventurous eaters will love. Whatever taste you like, you’ll be able to find the perfect snacking apple right here in upstate New York.
Apple picking season has begun, and you’ll be able to find the perfect apple for whatever you want at any of New York’s many orchards. If you don’t have time to head out to the orchard, stop by Charlie Johns. We have the apples you need for baking, cooking, or for a grab-and-go treat. And, if you’re looking for beautiful tableware to help serve up your apple treats, stop by the Speculator Department Store and check out our collection of housewares for home and entertaining. Whatever recipe means home and comfort to you, there’s an apple for that!