If you read my previous post about cooking, you know that I grew up in a family where my mom was a bad cook. I am anxious and reluctant about cooking. Now, at age 52, I am discovering what it’s like to cook food–real food–and enjoy it.
Today I’m writing about my issue with apples. I buy lots of apples. I read about how much fruit we are supposed to eat (five servings? five?!) and apples are cheap (usually), so I buy them by the bag. But then I get tired and bored with them pretty quickly, and after a while my kitchen fruit bowl full of apples that are, well, just past their prime. And then, feeling guilty, I think, I can’t throw them out!
I was at a local restaurant a few weeks ago, and the owners were touting their home-made apple sauce. Now, I thought all apple sauce came out of a big jar. I had no idea that we could make it ourselves! Wow! Apples we cook!
Here’s my solution to too many apples: Peel and grate the apples. Mix the apple mush with a sweet liquid–honey or real maple syrup or brown sugar mixed with water. (I really liked the the maple syrup–both add interesting flavor.) Add cinnamon and nutmeg to taste, and chopped nuts (I use walnuts because I read they are good for your heart, but I’m sure any–or no–nuts would be fine). Mostly I was going for the taste of apple pie. Bake for about an hour at 350. Then cool.
How to use this resulting mush: 1. on oatmeal 2. in yogurt (plain) 3. in muffin mix 4. heated and poured on vanilla ice cream for dessert.
I had the apple mush for breakfast and for dessert, and really, it was great–fiber and fruit and flavor. I now realize how our ancestors dealt with whatever food was available to them!
And I’m feeling just a tad less hapless.
Have you discovered the joy of working with a food you haven’t done much with before? Tell us about it.
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