Growing up in Haywood County, we were fortunate to have apple trees growing right in our back yard. If memory serves, they were golden delicious. As kids, my brothers and I spent more time picking the ones on the ground and throwing them at each other than actually eating them raw. My mother and grandmother, on the other hand, were masters at turning those apples into everything from homemade apple sauce to the best fried pies you can imagine.
These days I love using apples in savory recipes to add a punch of unexpected sweet or tart (depending on the apple variety) and texture. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy local apples when you’re looking for more than a sweet treat:
- Chop crisp, firm apples and add to your favorite salad greens. Add toasted pecans, chopped green onions and feta or goat cheese. Drizzle with a simple apple cider vinaigrette.
- Roast your favorite winter squash (buttnernut, acorn, delicata, buttercup to name a few). While the squash is roasting: sauté onions, chopped apples, fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme, a finely chopped garlic clove in extra virgin olive oil. Salt & pepper to taste. (Optional), remove mixture from skillet then brown some local sausage. Once sausage is fully cooked, return the apple mixture to your skillet and combine. Toss in toasted chopped nuts (we love pecans). Once your squash is cooked through and tender, scoop out a little and add to the apple/sausage mixture to act as a binder to bring it together. Using an ice cream scoop, stuff your sqush and return to the oven to heat through. Serve and enjoy.
- Chop apples into little sticks and add to your favorite cole slaw.
For those of you who are lovers of something sweet but want to stretch beyond the traditional apple pie—try this simple and delicious recipe for Custardy Apple Squares from famed baker, Dorie Greenspan. You can also search our bank of recipes by typing apple in the search bar to find a plethora of ideas.
Curious about all those different apple varieties you’ll see at local farm stands like Barber’s Orchard and KT’s Orchard & Apiary? Here’s a nifty guide from our friends at the NC Apple Growers Association.
No matter which way you slice it, there’s nothing that brings on all the fall feels like the arrival of local apples.
Always local, always buy Haywood for the best ingredients!
Tina Masciarelli
Buy Haywood Project Coordinator
PC: Aaron Blanco-Tejedor