Forbidden Fruit?

     The apple has been around since the dawn of time.  The origin of humankind is inextricably linked to the apple and Paradise is equated to a garden of cultivated fruit, its sensual irresistibility and the consequential calamity of its seduction.  We are all familiar with the story of Adam and Eve.  Other stories tell a similar tale: the Teutonic Iduno, Greek Hesperides and the Celtic Avalon all include references to apples.  Throughout history apples have been associated with love, beauty, luck, health, comfort, pleasure, wisdom, temptation, sensuality, virility and fertility.

 But did you know that there are more than 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide?  Some sources claim there are over 10,000 known varieties, 2,500 in the United States alone.  Even though our nation commercially produces 100 of them, only the lowly crab apple is a native species.  The rest are imports that have taken root across our land thanks in part to Jonathan Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed.

     Some of the better known apple varieties include:  Baldwin, Cortland, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Jonathan, Macoun, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Rome Beauty, Stayman and Winesap.  And it is the University of Minnesota that has the distinction of developing the sweetest apple of them all, the honey crisp.  For a complete listing click on the Orange Pippen website.

     Perhaps one reason why apples are so universally popular is their ability to pair well (no pun intended) with other ingredients.  Yesterday's post acknowledged their compatibility with pork. They also compliment a number of other foods, too.  Food Network Magazine in its most recent issue provided a supplement entitled, "50 Things to Make with Apples."  Here is a sampling of the apple combinations they recommend:

Apple Salmon Crostini            Wine Poached Apples            Apple Braised Cabbage
Bacon Apple Dates                   Apple Pork Burgers                Sausage Apple Skewers
Apple Sauerkraut                     Potato Apple Pancakes          Apple Horseradish Sauce
Apple Brie Polenta                   Apple Mustard Chicken        Apple Stuffing
Apple Cheddar Fondue          Waldorf Salad                          Creamy Apple Slaw
Caramel Apple Galette            Nutty Baked Apples                Apple Popcorn Balls

So we are only limited by our own imagination as to how to use this once forbidden fruit.  This is the season to yield to the temptation of including apples in your Fall menu.