Tuesday, October 9, 2018

How to Cook with Apple Cores

apple cores and unbaked apple pie

What’s not to love about an orchard-fresh apple on a crisp autumn day? For many people, it’s the core, which often finds itself on the fast track to the trash. But did you know that you can use apple cores to make apple juice, apple cider vinegar, and much more?

Before you start cooking with cores, you may want to get the apple seeds out of the way. Accidentally biting into or swallowing a seed isn’t the most pleasant experience. But on top of that, apple seeds contain a compound that can release cyanide when it encounters enzymes in our bodies. If you unintentionally swallow a seed here and there, you have nothing to worry about. To consume a lethal amount of cyanide, you would have to ingest about 200 apple seeds from 20 cores. Furthermore, you would have to carefully chew each of these seeds in order to break through the seed’s casing and release the compound. So while it’s extremely unlikely that ingesting stray apple seeds will do you any harm, it’s easy enough to remove them if it makes you feel more at ease. Just cut the core in half and use a knife to slide them out.

Before you can tackle one of these recipes, you’re going to need build up a reserve of cores. You can use your freezer to preserve cores while you grow your collection. As soon as you gather enough cores and remove the seeds, you’re ready to get cooking!

Apple Juice

homemade apple core apple juice

Green Talk

Move over, Mott’s. All you’ll need to make your own juice is a pot, some jars to store the juice, and two or three ingredients: cores, water, and (if you so choose) sugar. You’ll bring the cores and water to a boil, then reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for half an hour. Finally, toss what remains of the cores and use a coffee filter to catch any sediment before storing (or drinking)! Get the recipe.

Apple Jelly

homemade apple core jelly

A Year Without Groceries

The recipe for apple jelly isn’t all that different from the one for juice, except that sugar is a must, and you’ll need some lemon juice as well. You can also use the peels in this recipe! Get the recipe.

Apple Cider Vinegar

homemade apple cider vinegar

Don’t Waste The Crumbs

Apple cider vinegar is known as an age-old remedy for all manner of health issues from sore throats to blood sugar to dandruff and more. To make your own, you’ll once again need apple cores, sugar, and water. The key difference in making vinegar is that it isn’t a one-day task: The ingredients will need to spend about two weeks fermenting. Get the recipe.

Agrodolce

homemade agrodolce

Purple Kale

Agrodolce is an Italian sweet and sour sauce that can be used to add flavor to a variety of dishes from meats to greens. This recipe calls for 10 cores to make one cup of sauce. Get the recipe.

Bourbon Cocktail

apple core bourbon

Splendid Table

Once you have your agrodolce, add two ounces to another two ounces of bourbon, top it off with a sprig of rosemary or thyme, and you’ve got yourself a flavorful fall cocktail! Get the recipe.

Wine

homemade apple core wine

Instructables

For this recipe, you will need: a few pounds of apple cores, 5 to 12 months, and an adventurous spirit. Once you’ve assembled all of those ingredients (plus sugar, yeast, and a large glass container), you’re ready to try your hand at homemade apple core wine! Get the recipe.

Related Video: How to Make a Vegan Smoothie That Tastes Like Apple Pie



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Pumpkin Skillet Coffeecake With Streusel Topping

Pumpkin Skillet Coffeecake With Streusel Toppingpumpkin streusel muffin crossed with a blondie, and you'll have a good idea what this curiously rich coffee cake is all about—hearty and satisfying, aromatic, and chewy, with a hint of fudgyness thanks to the effects of melted white chocolate in the dough. Malted milk powder bumps up the earthiness of pumpkin, and helps with browning too. Get Recipe!


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Triple Apple Snack Cake + First Look at The Fruit Forager’s Companion

This Triple Apple Snack Cake—cider, sauce, and fresh apples—means this cake is bursting with fall flavor. This one comes from Sara Bir's cookbook The Fruit Forager's Companion!

Continue reading "Triple Apple Snack Cake + First Look at The Fruit Forager’s Companion" »



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10 All-Time Best Dip Recipes for Parties and Potlucks

Hosting your gang’s football party this weekend? Holiday cocktail party coming up? Got invited to Aunt Gertrude’s bookclub this Saturday and don’t want to show up empty handed?

No matter what kind of party or potluck you’ve got on the calendar, we have a dip for you.

STOCK YOUR PANTRY FOR EASY DIPS

The real beauty of dips is how truly fast and easy they are to make — that is, as long as you have all the ingredients. Luckily, most of the ingredients most commonly used for dips are either common pantry staples or can be stocked well in advance for any of your last-minute party needs.

Here’s a checklist of some ingredients to have on-hand:

  • Cream cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Mayonnaise
  • Shredded cheese
  • Canned artichokes
  • Canned crab or frozen lump crab meat
  • Canned pimentos
  • Frozen spinach
  • Frozen shrimp
  • Beer brats (keep a few in the freezer!)

You’ll also need snacks for serving with the dip, of course! Don’t forget to grab some crackers, pretzels, or chips for the pantry. If you’re at the store, pick up some fresh baguette or a veggie tray.

BAKE UNTIL BUBBLY…

Most hot dips just need to be baked until bubbly, so feel free to toss them in the oven alongside anything else you might have cooking. As long as the oven is within 50 degrees or so of the temperature recommended in the recipe, you’ll be fine.

Keep an eye on the edges of the dip and pull it out when you see bubbles.

…OR CHILL UNTIL NEEDED

Other dips can be served room temperature or chilled, and often do well if made a little bit in advance. This gives them a chance to firm up a little and for flavors to meld.

Pull them out of the fridge 15 minutes or so before guests arrive to take the chill off.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PARTY DIP?

Have a favorite dip that you don’t see here? Let us know in the comments!

Continue reading "10 All-Time Best Dip Recipes for Parties and Potlucks" »



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Monday, October 8, 2018

12 Breakfast Recipes Starring Apples

Apple season is here and there’s no better way to enjoy it than finding way to incorporate apples into your first meal of the day: breakfast. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, why not each one every morning? Check out these 12 recipes for breakfast that highlight fall’s finest fruit.

1. Apple Fritter Recipe

Chowhound

Tart apples like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady make these apple fritters infinitely more fresh-tasting than any you’d find at your local donut shop. A maple syrup and vanilla glaze add the perfect finishing touch. Get our Apple Fritter recipe.

2. Applesauce

Chowhound

This is a simple and easy-to-follow recipe for homemade applesauce that will be a game changer; you’ll start to wonder why you ever bought store-bought applesauce in the first place. Get our Applesauce recipe.

3. Apple Cranberry Oat Crumble

Taste Space

The apple cranberry combination with some Greek yogurt is a flavorful alternative to your normal parfait. You can substitute blueberries, or any frozen berry you have on hand, if you want to switch up the flavors. Get the recipe here.

4. Apple-Maple French Toast

Martha Stewart

Caramelized apples cooked in cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup are a fantastic topping for this traditional French toast recipe that takes it to the next level. Get the recipe here.

5. Apple-Cinnamon Waffles

Applesauce and grated fresh apples make these a very special breakfast treat. These are a step up from your usual buttermilk waffles and you should be sure to make a double batch and freeze some for later in the week. Get our Apple-Cinnamon Waffles recipe.

6. Apple and Cheddar Bread

Everybody Likes Sandwiches

A great choice for a late brunch, this bread is packed with a full cup of cheddar cheese and a full cup of chopped apples. Try it straight from the oven or toast it up later and slather with butter. Get the recipe here.

7. Caramelized Apple Pancake

Jenny Can Cook

A pancake house favorite, this caramelized apple pancake is made from only a few ingredients: eggs, milk, flour, salt, butter, brown sugar, and apples. Top with confectioner’s sugar and squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top. Get the recipe here.

8. Apple Quick Bread with Pecan Streusel

Chowhound

Touted as a great alternative to muffins, Chowhound’s apple quick bread is topped with a brown-sugar streusel that’s so good you’ll be tempted to eat it all by itself. Get our Apple Quick Bread with Pecan Streusel recipe.

9. Old Fashioned Apple Pandowdy

Gourmet

An unusual dish that’s as fun to eat as it is to say, this apple pandowdy is sweetened with molasses. The biscuit topping browns beautifully when brushed with heavy cream. Get the recipe here.

10. Apple Butter Recipe

Taste of Southern

Apple butter is a mysterious combination that tastes far richer than the sum of its parts. Decadent enough to earn the name butter, this combination of apples, water, apple cider vinegar, sugar, spices, and lemon makes for a phenomenal spread. Get the recipe here.

11. Caramel Apple and Cinnamon Breakfast Casserole

Chowhound

An apple-based breakfast casserole, this serves a crowd and is a great pick for a potluck brunch. A custard of buttermilk, apple cider, vanilla, and cinnamon makes for a rich and smooth base for soaking the day-old French bread. Get our Caramel Apple and Cinnamon Breakfast Casserole recipe.

12. Apple Oat Scones

Martha Stewart

Old-fashioned rolled oats, buttermilk, and Granny Smith apples make these apple oat scones a great choice for breakfast (or even better for a snack at teatime).  They’re moist and even somewhat healthy (at least compared to a typical butter-filled scone). Get the recipe here.

Header image: Apple Cinnamon Waffles from Chowhound

Related video: How to Make a Double Crust Apple Pie



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The Best of Pumpkins: Why They’re the Ultimate Fall Fruit

best things to do with pumpkin and best ways to use fresh pumpkin

As a food, as a piece of natural art, and as an enduring symbol of fall, pumpkins are practically perfect in every way. If you’re not certain about squash’s preeminence, please allow us to present some of the evidence in their favor: they’re incredibly healthy; they come in all sorts of enchanting shapes, shades, and sizes; almost every part is edible, from skin to seeds; they’re cooked in cuisines all over the globe; they’re great for decorating your space all fall; and they even make fantastic (if polarizing) beer that’s the alcoholic answer to the PSL!

Seriously, squash is hot. Check out all our premium pumpkin content and see if you don’t come away with a new appreciation of the almighty gourd.

How to Make Desserts Using a Whole Pumpkin

how to use a whole pumpkin in dessert

Shutterstock

As in, you can eat the entire thing (well, except the stem). See how to use the whole pumpkin in dessert.

An International Look at Pumpkin: How It’s Prepared Around the World

international pumpkin recipes (how other countries eat pumpkin)

Shutterstock

Making grub from gourds is a global phenomenon, and for good reason. They’re nutritious, delicious, and versatile enough to star in all sorts of dishes. Get pumpkin recipes from other countries.

What’s the Difference Between Pumpkin Puree and Pumpkin Pie Filling?

What is the difference between canned pumpkin puree and pumkin pie filling?

Shutterstock

It’s a little more than just a spoonful of sugar, so be sure you always grab the right can (and know when you can substitute). Find out the finer points of canned pumpkin vs pumpkin pie filling.

Clever Ways to Decorate with Pumpkins This Fall

unique and interesting ways to decorate with pumpkins for fall, from Hallowwen through Thanksgiving

Shutterstock

Gourds are great for giving a seasonally festive feel to your home, from Halloween through Thanksgiving, no matter what your style (and ambition level). It’s worth looking at the DIY pumpkin succulent planter, at the very least. Get ideas on decorating with pumpkins for fall.

Pumpkin Pie Lies: It’s Actually Canned Squash

Is pumpkin pie made from real pumpkins?

Shutterstock

Sure, it’s a matter of semantics, but we like to know exactly what we’re getting. And the history of how cucurbits ended up in pies—and in cans—in the first place is an interesting one. Discover the truth about pumpkin pie.

How Do People Grow Massive Pumpkins?

How do people grow giant pumpkins? What are pumpkin competitions like?

Shutterstock

Now, that’s a great pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Here’s how people grow those gargantuan gourds—and what it’s like to compete in giant pumpkin contests (surprisingly lucrative, in some cases). Learn the secrets to growing giant pumpkins.

What’s Actually in Pumpkin Spice? (And Why Does It Work So Well?)

What is pumpkin spice made of?

Shutterstock

We break down the science of the flavors we fall for every autumn. Even if you don’t like ’em in your latte, these warm spices will work together to win you over. See what pumpkin spice is made of.

Love It or Loathe It, Pumpkin Beer Is a Fall Staple, and Older Than You May Think

how is pumpkin beer made

Turns out, you might have George Washington to thank—or blame—for pumpkin beer! And is there actually pumpkin in it? Slake your thirst for knowledge and find out how pumpkin beer is made and who invented it.

From Blue to Cheese, Get to Know These Under-the-Radar Pumpkin and Squash Varieties

different types of squash and uncommon types of squash

Shutterstock

These unusual squashes are eye-catching and palate-pleasing, but they can be hard to find, so get thee to a pumpkin patch, posthaste. Or take a virtual tour of interesting and uncommon kinds of winter squash.

Corn Boxes, Pig Races, and a Pumpkin-Eating Dinosaur: The Wonders of an Over-the-Top Fall Pumpkin Festival

best pumpkin farm fall festival near Chicago, Illinois

Even more reasons to locate your local pumpkin farm, ASAP! And even if you don’t have a kid to entertain, your inner child will have tons of fun (plus, you can pick up delicious things to eat along the way). See what you might find at a pumpkin farm or fall festival near you.

6 Reasons Why Pumpkin Is the New Superfood

the health benefits of pumpkin (and why winter squash is so good for you)

They’re perfect, they’re beautiful, they look like Linda Evangelista—I mean, they’re a nutritional powerhouse. And they are definitely a model member of the superfood club. Discover the health benefits of pumpkin.

The Tools You Need to Carve a Perfect Pumpkin

how to carve pumpkins like a pro

Shutterstock

These are the right tools for the job—of pretending you’re competing on “Halloween Wars” (or just pulling off the best jack-o-lantern on the block). See how to carve a pumpkin like a pro with these tools.

We Taste-Tested Some of the Wildest Pumpkin Spice Products We Could Find

the best and worst pumpkin spice products on the market

Shutterstock

And sad to say, they were not all smashing…but some were! Find out which pumpkin spice snacks are actually good (aka worth the hit to your wallet—and your waistline).

Related Video: Why Pumpkin Is Actually a Fruit



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Rank Your Favorite Starbucks Holiday Items

Visiting Starbucks is a part of many people’s daily routine, and those people get very excited when the coffee giant rolls out their seasonal treats. The Pumpkin Spice Latte has more than 7,000 fans on Facebook. But now you have the opportunity to make your voice heard. Press the up and down arrows above each item to rank Starbucks holiday items, from the beverages to the seasonal sandwiches.



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