Podcast 75: Autumn Apples

by The Meal Makeover Moms on October 6th, 2009

Wow. We can hardly believe we recorded our 75th Cooking with the Moms podcast show this week!  Time sure flies when you have a lot to talk about and a lot of recipes to share. This week was no exception.

Autumn is a gorgeous time of year here in New England as the leaves turn to a rainbow of amazing colors. It’s a feast for the eyes … and if you’re lucky like we are, it’s also a time to feast on local apples. There are plenty to choose from at farmer’s markets, roadside stands, and U-pick orchards.  To celebrate fall’s amazing bounty of apples, we created two recipes for the show. The first is a baked apple stuffed with a mixture of dried fruit and walnuts and our second is a simple side dish Janice whipped up the other night, using apples from her CSA.

Baked Apples with Walnut & Dried Fruit Filling
Makes 4 Servings

Growing up, Liz’s mom made baked apples every fall. The aroma was intoxicating and to this day, the smell of apples baking in the oven brings back fond memories of those crisp autumn days. Apples are rich in fiber – yes, an apple a day may keep the doctor away – and are perfect for snacks or even dessert.  The inspiration for the creation of this nut and fruit-filled baked apple came from Eating Well magazine.

  • 4 medium apples
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit (we used golden raisins and dried cranberries)
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • Pinch ground cinnamon
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 cup apple juice or apple cider

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2. Core the apples almost all the way through to the bottom with a sharp knife or apple corer. You should have about a 1-inch-wide hole after the apples have been cored. Use a small spoon to remove any remaining seeds.  Place in a small baking/casserole dish.

3. Place the walnuts and dried fruit in a mini food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.  Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt and pulse a few more times to combine.

4. Gently press the filling into each apple cavity. Pour the apple juice into the baking dish.  Cover the apples with aluminum foil or cover with a fitted lid and bake 30 minutes. Remove the cover and bake, uncovered, an additional 10 to 20 minutes until done (golden delicious will need more time than McIntosh). Baste every 10 minutes.

5. When the apples are soft and tender (test by piercing with a wooden skewer), remove from oven. Serve warm, at room temp, or cold.  Top with some of the pan juices and either whipped cream or lowfat frozen vanilla ice cream or yogurt.

Tip: Check out Eating Well for their tips on making the perfect baked apple.

Nutrition Information per Serving: 290 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated), 70mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, 3g protein, 15% vitamin C

Sautéed Cinnamon Apples
Makes 8 Servings

When Janice had her two sisters and brother over to celebrate Leah’s 10th birthday, she served pork chops and a ham steak  from her Vermont-based meat CSA, The Houde Family Farm.   For a sweet and savory side dish, she made these simple sauteed cinnamon apples.

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 4 medium apples, cored and chopped into ½-inch pieces – I used macs and gala (peeled or unpeeled)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 pinch nutmeg

1. Heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is very tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

2. Add the apples, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg and stir well to coat.  Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 20 minutes.

Nutrition Information per Serving:  65 calories, 1.5g fat (1g saturated), 70mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate, 2.5g fiber, 0.5g protein

What’s your favorite fall apple recipe? Do tell!!

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3 Comments | Filed Under Desserts, Fruits, Sides, Snacks 

3 Responses to “Podcast 75: Autumn Apples”

  1. noble pig on October 8th, 2009

    I love apple pie, can’t help myself. But this looks absolutely yummy.

  2. Amy on October 25th, 2009

    Yummy! I love apple recipes. Fall is my favorite time of year! Do you gals ever come up with Gluten-Free recipes or is your goal just to make everyday recipes a little healthier? I would love to see some gluten-free and even casein-free recipes on your site. :-)

  3. Sandi on October 29th, 2009

    I made this tonight and it tasted great. I told my husband and son it was sauteed apples but they didn;t quite get it. =Husband said the applys needed more sugar. I tolde him I never said it was apple sauce.

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