Written by Sylvia Geiger MS, RD, CD, Price Chopper Community Nutritionist
“What ezz apple pie?” Arnaud, our foreign exchange student asked when I suggested ways to use the 2 bushels of apples he and my daughter just picked—whoa is that ever a lot of apples! Apparently, they don’t make apple pie in the French speaking part of Switzerland, nor do they have umpteen varieties of apples like we do in the USA. Depending upon the season, Price Chopper typically carries 8-10 of the 50 most popular varieties grown in the US. Each variety has its unique combination of sweetness and tartness and I’m often asked, “What’s the best apple for baking a pie or making applesauce?” The answer is—whatever you like best. Really, there is no right or wrong answer— it’s a mater of personal preference. I find that Macoun or McIntosh apples mush down quickly when I’m making applesauce and I like Idared or Rome apples in pie because they retain their shape. My favorite eating apple this year is Honeycrisp—they are sooo yummy! Remember to go with what you like and use this handy guide put out by the New York Apple Association when making your selection. While each apple variety has its characteristic flavor and crispness, they all have basically the same nutritional value. One medium sized apple has about 80 calories and no fat. It provides about 10% of the daily needs for vitamin C and contains a healthy type of fiber, pectin, which helps lower blood cholesterol. New research from the Netherlands indicates that white fruit, such as apples and pears, contains compounds that are associated with lower risk for stroke. Don’t forget to eat the apple skin! Research done at Cornell University revealed that many of the anti-oxidants that play a role in cancer prevention are found in the skin or apple peel. Want some ideas for apples recipes? Search “apples” at Price Chopper Recipes and you’ll find 193 quick and easy apple recipes. I’ve included some of my favorite for using Royal Gala and Golden Delicious—both are on sale this week.Quick Ideas for Using Apples in Everyday Meals
Recipe Ideas using this week’s Sale items
For Breakfast try Apple Topped Muffin or Apple-Bacon Pancakes with Cider Syrup
For Dinner try Apple & Fennel Roasted Pork Tenderloin or
Grilled Kodiak Sockeye salmon fillet with Apple Salsa
Great accompaniment for any meal Apple & Tomato and Cucumber Salad or
Cheese Apple Salad or Creamy Chopped Cauliflower Salad
Some great desserts that feature apples
Ginger Apple Cuplets or Deep-Dish Apple Pie
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