Heirloom Apples

Heirloom apples

Heirloom Apples

Fall is apple season! Did you know there are heirloom apples just like heirloom tomatoes? They are making a comeback as we strive to find the right crunch and sweet bite full of deep and unique flavor. Apples are not native to North America. This delectable fruit made the journey across the big pond with the colonists.

Thomas Jefferson planted 18 different varieties in his Monticello “fruitery” in the early 1800”s. By the early 1900’s we had lost the outstanding delicious full flavor of the heirloom apples to the likes of the red delicious that eagerly moved in and took the starring role. The deep and satisfying flavor of heirloom apples would have been totally lost had it not been for apple enthusiasts who craved a more unique flavor packed apple experience. They tracked down centuries old trees on abandoned farms and grafted their branches into rootstocks. Heirloom apples are suddenly cutting edge and a must have in our gardens as they promise to deliver a more palette pleasing flavor along with an enjoyable texture.

Some heirloom varieties you may be able to find at farmer’s markets include: Pitmaston Pineapple, Hidden Rose, Esopus Spitzenburg, Macoun, Gravenstein, Northern Spy, Ashmeads’s Kernel, Newton Pippin, Ashmed’s Kernel, Calville Blanc d’Hiver, Cox’s Orange Pippin, and Golden Russet.

There are 7,500 different varieties of apples. There’s almost as many apple varieties as there are r apple recipes. 40 lbs is the average number of apples a single tree will produce each season. That would make more than 400 pies and over 1600 caramel apples.

Here’s a sweet and subtle apple dip for you to try the next time you decide to serve apple slices.

Cream Cheese Apple Dip

Ingredients

  • 1 8oz brick of cream cheese soften
  • 1Tsp real vanilla
  • ½ Cup powdered sugar
  • 1/3 Cup half & half
  • 4 -5 Apples of your favorite variety

Directions

Mix all ingredients with either a stand up or hand mixer until smooth and creamy. You may need to add a couple more tablespoons of half & half, depending on the consistency you desire.

LIFE IS DELICIOUS at Dinner4Two!