Backyard Bounty: Apples

What to with all those apples...

How do you like them apples? Baked, juiced, sautéed or pureed? Here are some ideas if your apple trees are laden and your kids won’t condone another crumble.

Connoting all things pleasant and simple, the modern apple is a symbol of homegrown happiness and good health. This perhaps goes back to ancient mythology, where the apple was connected to love, wisdom and eternal youth, with Venus often depicted holding an apple in ancient statues. Of course, apples also feature in the Bible, where the fruit holds the key to knowledge. The humble apple also famously provided an instigator for the formulation of gravitational theory!

The ones on your tree may not seem quite so powerful, but they do have huge potential. Once you have worked through the usual apple cakes and crumbles, there are some great savoury dishes to try. As a start, apples go great when slow cooked with chicken and Moroccan spices in a tagine or crockpot, with the sweetness of the apple merging beautifully with the tenderness of the meat and the pep of the seasoning. 

Cubed apple pieces can be added to a rich massaman curry, along with kumara and butternut, or for a fresh and tangy side dish, slice apples thinly and pair with salad greens, feta, walnuts and celery. Of course, apples famously go beautifully with pork, where a simple apple sauce can balance the salt content of this meat.

If dessert is called for, apples can be stuffed with nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and fruit, then baked whole for a wholesome, autumnal weekend treat. This recipe takes strudel to a new level using pinenuts and rum raisins, or try this simple, flaky version for an authentic take.

Pureed apples can be frozen in an ice tray and added to anything from smoothies to cakes throughout the year. Sliced apples also make a great adornment to your cheese platter, especially pairing well with soft brie and blue cheeses. If in need of a fast snack, slather a slice with your favourite nut butter and crunch away. For the more patient among us, apples can be used to make your own apple cider vinegar, or for a non-boozy cider drink, try this warm, spiced cider recipe. 

If all else fails, don’t forget your feathered friends, who are likely helping themselves to the fallen fruit under your tree as it is. If your glut doesn’t come from your own garden, split an apple and remove the seeds, then place it on your feeder. With all their high energy hopping and chirping, your visitors will soon bring that promised sense of happiness and good health to your hood.