Article: Orchard Fresh

[Sara Noel]

A few apple-delicious facts: Two pounds of apples make an excellent 9" pie. Apples are fat, sodium and cholesterol free. It takes an apple tree four to five years to produce its first fruits - no wonder they taste so great!
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A bowl of beautiful red, yellow, and green apples will enhance your home with color, aroma and a delicate appearance. Run a pretty fall ribbon through the bowl or basket that contains your apples or even tie a pretty raffia ribbon at the base. Apples in bushels outside on steps, porches, decks, etc. add a nice "atmosphere" of fall to your decor.

Dried apples strung on a tree give a treat to our fine feathered friends as well as a festive look to an area. Intertwine with dried oranges, cranberries, dried berries, and you have an autumn garland.

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Dippin' apples:
1 (8 ozs. ) pkg. cream cheese
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla
cream all ingredients together. Serve with crisp apples slices.
Caramel apples the easy way!

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A great way to grace your table with apples: Cut top off an apple. Scoop out inside, leaving 1/4" thick shell.
With pointed sharp knife, mark petal shapes; cut along markings.
Brush cut edges with lemon juice to prevent browning.
Fill with a fruit salad, ice cream, or lettuce salad, also rice or corn.
A very nice addition!

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Pan-fried apple slices:
2 red cooking apples, cored
2 tbs. butter, softened
1/2 cup apple jelly
Cut apples into 1/2" thick wedges. In a pan over medium heat, in hot butter cook apple wedges about 7-9 mins. or until apples are tender-crisp. With a pancake turner, turn wedges once during
cooking. Stir in apple jelly; heat through.
Serve with baked ham or with pancakes.

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All-time favorite - a fresh from the oven piece of your favorite recipe apple pie - with or without that scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ah! the beauty of life!

ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 October
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[captclearance]

Mmmmmmmmm............

[Michelle]

I can't wait to go apple picking and then make some pies, and crisp, and bread, and....