It’s post Labor Day and as summer transitions into fall, I eagerly welcome the apple season. I love apples! I started picking apples in my grandparents orchard, small though it was. They grew McIntosh apples. As a young adult, I went apple picking on a date. The date was ok, but the apple picking was fantastic. That was when I discovered that there were so many more varieties of apples beyond the simple, yet classic McIntosh. I loved strolling through the enormous orchard testing varieties from tree to tree before deciding where to spend my time picking.  So many varieties, Cortland, Empire, Macoun, Granny Smith, Winesap, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp the names go on. All are great for eating, currently my favorite is Honeycrisp. For cooking it depends on the recipe, however, Granny Smith is still one of the best all round cooking apples. I thought I would kick off our apple season together with a few recipes featuring apples. The first recipe is a salad that balances between sweet and tart as well as soft and crunchy. Apples may not be the first ingredient you think of when making salad , but it will be once you eat this salad. The second recipe is hard to resist, it’s apple muffins with a streusel topping, the aroma on a cool autumn morning is intoxicating! So go head fall in love!

From by the bay wishing you crisp food memories!

Maryann

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Mixed Greens with Apples, Candied Pecans and Honey Vinaigrette

Serves 4

Dressing:

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

2 tablespoon honey

½ teaspoon prepared mustard

Salad:

4 cups mixed greens

¼ cup manchego cheese, shaved

1 apple

1 teaspoon lemon juice

¼ cup candied pecans

Directions

To make dressing combine all ingredients in a glass jar and shake. Keep to the side until ready to use. Shake before pouring onto salad.

Slice apple with skin on and place in bowl with lemon juice and mix to coat apples. To make salad combine all ingredients except cheese in a large bowl. Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Top with shaved manchego cheese.

Candied Pecan

1 egg white

1 tablespoon water

2 cups pecans

½ cup light brown sugar

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 225 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine egg white and water in mixing bowl. Beat until fluffy. Fold in pecans to coat evenly. Combine the sugar and salt and sprinkle over the pecans. Spread the nuts evenly onto the baking sheet and bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven , cool and store in an airtight container until ready to use.