One of my favorite fall activities is apple picking. Living on the East Coast in autumn means that there are always plenty of apple varieties for a banquet of dishes. And I’m not just talking about desserts, like apple pies and crumbles. You can create sweet and savory mains, sides and salads, using this abundant and local fruit.
Today, I’m going to share all the juicy details on sourcing the tastiest apples, and then redefine your weekly menu with fall-ready recipes and inspiration for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Apple Picking & Sourcing
If you and your family are looking for an apple-picking adventure and you live in my neck of the woods (Wayne, Pennsylvania), I recommend Highland Orchards in West Chester. If you don’t live in the area, try a Google search, or ask around to find an orchard or farm near you. This is really the most fun and fresh way to fill your kitchen with lots of apples (and it’s usually the most affordable option). Otherwise, shop for organic apples at your grocery store or nearby farmer’s market.
Irresistible Apple Recipes
Of course, you can always slice apples and enjoy them raw anytime you need a little pick-me-up. In fact, apples have been known to give you more of an afternoon energy boost than a cup of coffee! Slather them with nut butter for a pre or post-workout treat.
In addition to healthy snacking, I use apples in many of my clients’ dishes to create unexpected flavors with a seasonal spin. Some ideas?
- Toss raw apples into your oatmeal or cinnamon-spiced chia seed breakfast pudding.
- Add thin slices of green apples to grilled cheese sandwiches. This is made even better with Brie!
- Upgrade grains with a combination of chopped apples, celery and walnuts with cranberries and Gouda. Check out this recipe from Fine Cooking.
- Reinvent traditional “pork chops and apple sauce” with sautéed pork chops nestled into a sweet potato and apple medley. This recipe from Epicurious will wow you!
No time to enjoy the season? Let me make fall-inspired dishes for you and your family. Discover how incredible local ingredients and homemade meals can make you look and feel. Find more of my Sample Menus here or contact me to get started.
