By Emily Wei, Lifestyle Columnist
I hope you all are enjoying our brisk fall weather so far because November is officially upon us! A classic fall activity that I’m sure most of you have partaken in recently is apple picking. However, a predicament that some of you may find yourself in now is; what can you do with all the extra apples? Well, look no further because today I hope to help those of you in this sticky situation.
I thought it might be helpful to give a bit of insight into various types of apples! A few of the most common apples found in Nova Scotia that are found at most U-Picks include; McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, and Honeycrisp. Starting with some apples that are good for cooking, McIntosh apples have a thick, but easy to peel, dark red and green skin. They are a mix of sweet, sour, and juicy with a hint of spice, but also contain a tender flesh! These are one of the best apples to eat plain off the tree but are also good for baking since they require a shorter cooking time than other apples.
Cortland apples are a McIntosh variety and, therefore, have many similar qualities. The sweet flavour may fade quickly after being picked, but on the upside, the flesh does not turn brown as fast as most apples! Despite the resemblance in their names, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious apples are actually very different. Golden Delicious apples are very sweet and hold their shape well when used for baking purposes. However, since they are so sweet, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar in your recipes!
On the other hand, Red Delicious apples have a very dark red/maroon colour but lack a strong flavour. This doesn’t stop them from being good in salads though! However, you’ll want to try to avoid using these in the oven as they have a bit of a “mushy” reputation. Gala apples are usually available all year round, so it’s convenient that they have potential for various uses. Although they get soft when baked, they don’t get overly liquidy, making them a good choice for pies! The infamous Honeycrisp apple is one of the most versatile apples since they are good for basically anything! Being sweet, crunchy, and crisp, Honeycrisp apples can be eaten raw, in salads, baking, and even more. The only downside for these apples is that they tend to have a higher price point than most other varieties.
If you have any events coming around and are looking for some less common ways to use your apples, some classic fall activities involve bobbing for apples and making caramel apples! On the other hand, if you’re looking for some cute and easy artwork that any age can have fun with and make, cut your apples into slices and dip them in paint! From here, you can let your mind create a masterpiece for you! One last way to use your apples is to put them near your unripe fruit. Since apples release a gas that accelerates ripening, you can use them to ripen your unripe fruit just by putting them near each other!
As we begin to embrace November, our U-Pick adventures have left us with a gift of an abundance of apples! Whether you have a preference for the tartness of McIntosh or the crunchiness of Honeycrisp, there are countless ways to savour all of these flavours. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your month and I’ll see you in December!
