An Apple A Day.... or more???

We can see the leaves changing colours and it’s also apple season, therefore it’s the perfect time to make apple desserts. I was visiting my sister and I happened to look out of her kitchen window into her back yard. I gasped as I saw the apples on the apple tree. There were about 200 of them on the tree and each one looked so tempting that I had to run outside and grab some in a bag. Yes, I went apple picking in my sister's backyard! She has a few fruit trees, but at the moment her apple tree is in full bloom. They are not only beautiful to look at, they are extremely juicy as well. Perfect for apple pie, apple crumbles, apple or mixed fruit and vegetable juices, jams, chutneys and salads.

We have a few apple orchards around where we live, but we haven’t yet gone during this season. It’s always a fun trip as you want to pick more apples than you can carry in your bag.  The secret lies in picking the apple along with the stem. This way they last much longer in a cool, dry place.  I have kept about 10 pounds of apples for 3 weeks in my basement cold room. They are so easy to store and an absolute delight to eat.

Apple dishes are popular in Nova Scotia during later fall as this is when they are harvested. Traditionally, there are many apple blossom festivals and parades. The recipe for the Apple Crisp was given to me by my friend Tracey from Nova Scotia about 16 years ago. It’s her mom’s recipe. You can imagine how many times I've made it since then. It’s fool proof and tastes amazing every single time I make it. Try this apple crisp warm with some vanilla ice cream and your taste buds will thank you. I have also added a recipe for a delicious Apple Flan. Since the season is still in the air, we will be putting up more recipes when possible. A.K.