It’s that time of year when apples are beginning to ripen – a true sign that fall is well on its way! Ohio is most assuredly one of the prettiest states when it comes to fall colors, and the numerous colors that apples can be found in today add another reason to why Ohio is visited by so many travelers at this time of year. Here are some interesting facts about apples that will add to your love of one of America’s most eaten fruits – followed by a tasty and simple dessert no one will turn down! Apple Crisp!
- 7,500 apple varieties exist the last time someone counted, including more than 2,500 varieties grown here in the United States.
- Sometimes called “nature’s toothbrush,” apples help clean the teeth and massage the gums.
- Good apples are bright, crisp, juicy, and full bodied . . . not dull, pale, musty, or wrinkled.
- A really good apple squirts juice when you take the first bite.
- The story of Johnny Appleseed is a true legend.
- About 46% of the apples grown are Jonathan , 32% Red Delicious, 10% are Golden Delicious, 5% are Gala apples, and the other 7% are other cultivars such as Rome, Empire, Fuji, Winesap, and Paula Red
- Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, yellows.
- Two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie.
- Apples are grown in all 50 states.
- 61 percent of United States apples are eaten as fresh fruit.
- 39 percent of apples are processed into apple products; 21 percent of this is for juice and cider.
- Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free.
- A medium apples is about 80 calories.
- The science of apple growing is called pomology.
- Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit.
- Most apples are still picked by hand in the fall.
- The apple variety ‘Delicious’ is the most widely grown in the United States.
- Apples are a member of the rose family.
- Americans eat 19.6 pounds or about 65 fresh apples every year.
- 25 percent of an apple’s volume is air. That is why they float.
- The largest apple picked weighed three pounds.
- The average size of a United States orchard is 50 acres.
- Some apple trees will grow over forty feet high and live over a hundred years.
- Most apples can be grown farther north than most other fruits because they blossom late in spring, minimizing frost damage.
- It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple.
- Apples are the second most valuable fruit grown in the United States. Oranges are first.
- One of George Washington’s hobbies was pruning his apple trees.
- Apples ripen six to ten times faster at room temperature than if they were refrigerated.
Easy Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Filling
- 6 medium baking apples, such as Granny Smith (2 1/2 to 3 pounds)
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar, depending on tartness of apple
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees . Butter a 9-inch square baking dish.
2. Core apples then cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Add apples to a large bowl with orange zest, orange juice, sugar, raisins, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir then add to baking dish.
3. To make the crisp topping, combine flour, oats, sugar and the salt in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter then stir until all the flour has been moistened by the butter and topping is crumbly. Sprinkle over apple filling.
4. Bake 60-90 minutes or until juices are thickened, the apples are tender and the topping has turned light golden brown. If the topping starts to become too brown, cover with aluminum foil and continue to bake until the apples are done.
Top with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for extra yumminess!