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I ___________ __* WffIfBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY,-SEPTMR13, 1989,. PAGE 17 Love them apples!1 Surprise -- Canadians eat apples more often than any other fruit! And in Ontario, the world-famous McIntosh is rated number one. The season runs early/mid-September through to May, so there'9 lots of turne to sample the pick of the orchard. Here's some tips from Foodliand Ontario for complete munching enjoyment. BEST 0F THE BUNCH How do you make sure you're getting the best apples? Look for Mclntosh apples with a good prportion of green to red color. Dnt shy. away from green Mclntosh apples -- they taste delicious. Steer clear of any with bruises. e Wondering how many to buy? Count on three medium apples for a pound. One medium apple can be sliced to fill a cup. HANDLE WI¶H CARE *Remember the old saying: One bad apple spoils the whole bunch? It's still good advice today. Overripe or bruised apples give off a ripening hormone called ethylene gas. It causes apples stored nearby to ripen too quickly -- often before you've had a chance to enjoy them! e After urchasing apples, sort throughtem Set any overripe fruit aside to use for applesauce or pie fillings. Keep the others in, their original plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. This way they'l stay crisp and juicy for up to a month. 0 Store large baskets of apples in an area that's cool and well ventilated like the garage or fruit cellar. Place sheets of plastic over the basket to help keep humidity inside. FLASH FROZEN *Looking for a handy time-saver? Try freezing peeled and sliced apples now for fast applesauce or pi fillings later. Heres how to do it. For best flavor and texture choose firm apples like McIntosh and pack them in a dry sugar pack. For every four cups of sliced apples, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon (1 mL) of ascorbic acid 'Powder in 1/4 cup (50 mL) of cola water. (This helps to prevent browning.) Sprinkle the mixture over the prepared fruit and stir gently. Next add 1/4 cup (50 mL) of sugar. Pack the fr-uit in freezer bags or containers, label and store in the freezer for up to one year. 0 Before using the frozen apples, be sure to let themn thaw at roomn temperature for one to two hours. And remember -- subtract the sugar that was added for the freezing fromn the applesauce or pie filling recipe. AN APPLE A DAY *Is there any truth to the old saying? Actually, eating an apple a day midght not keep the doctor away. Today, nutritionists agree apples are an important part of the Canadian nutrition plan for good health. This plan promotes sensible eating with low-fat, high-carbohydrate and high-fiber foods. While their main dlaim to nutritional faine is a healthy contribution of fiber, apples also contain small amounts of potassium and vitamin A. FOOD FOR THOUGHT *Here's good news for apple loyers. Nutrition researchers say apples are a smart choice for an afternoon snack. Studies found that apples raise the flood sugar level slowly and keep it up longer. After an apple snack you'll likely make it to dinner without heading for the refrigerator. 0 Take a second look at something school kids have known for years. An apple makes a delicious snack that's easy te transport. Consider packing one with a wedge of cheese for an office break. It's a low-calorie way to satisfy a craving for something sweet. Apple Diunpliings Margaret latworthy of Porcupine, Ont., cooks ber prize-winning apple dumplings, without syrup, for haif of the cooking time so that the' pastry cirisps on top. Try substituting cream cheese for the traditional jelly; it meits deliciously inside the apples. smail Ontaria Mclntosh apples peeled and cored (1 V4 lbs/625 g) Pastry 2 1/2 cups 1 tsp 1 cup 1/3 cup Filllng 3 tbsp 1 tbsp 1/4 tsp pinch 2 tbsp Syrup 11/2 cups 1 V/2 cups 3 tbsp Garnish aillpurpose flour 625 mL sait 5 mL shortening 250 mL (approx.) cold water 75 mL packed brown sugar 50 mL butter, softened 15 mL each cinnamon, alîspice, nutmeg 2 mL ground claves pinch red currant jelly 25 mL water 375 mL granulated sugar 375 mL apple juice 50QmL light cream (optional) Pastry: In bowl combine flaur and saIt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Using fork, toss cold water with flour mixture until dough can be'preLSed into a bail; flatten into rectangle. Wrap and chili while preparing filling. Fillllng: In small bowl combine brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cloves. Set asicle. Syrup: ln small saucepan combine water, granulated sugar and apple juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Set aside. Roll pastry out to 18 x 12-inch (45 x 30 cm) rectangle. Cut to form six 6-inch (15 cm) squares. Place an apple in center of each square.-Stuff each apple.with 1 V2' tsp (7 ml) filling mixture. Top each 1 tsp (5 mL) red currant jelly. Bring Up corners of pastry to center of apple, sealing and crimping edges to completely enclose apple. You will have 4 seams forming a cross. Transfer dumplings to shallow 13 x 9-inch (34 x 22 cm) pan. Bake in 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) aven for 30 minutes. Pour syrup evenly over dumplings. Retum to aven; bake 20 minutes longer or until pastry is golden, basting frequently. Serve hot or warm. Pass creamn separately, if desired. Makes 6 dumplings. Preparation Time: 50 minutes Cooking Time: Dumplings 50 minutes; Syrup 5 minutes Apple fat -riglit down to the core Ites not surprising apples are pick-your-own sales. Ontario's just storage recipes." low oxygeýn controlled atuiosphere Ontario's favorite fruit. Versatile very own Mclntosh is the biggest 10 More and more growers are and because of their crispness are and great-tasting, McIntosh, selling pick-your-own apple. Bob looking for ways to make their available to be enjoyed almost Idared and Spy are just three of Cobbledick, marketing specialist customers' visit an expenience Year 'round. Macs held in cold the many varieties now available. with tlËe Ministry of Agriculture and not a chore. Chudieigh feels storage (storage in a refrigerated Here's a Foodland Ontario and Food, attributes this te the it's- important to provide space within a controlled industry update on this deliciaus wide distribution of Macs incentives ta attract people and te atmosphere), will keep fresh until fruit. throughout Ontario. get them ta came back again around December. *Ontario boasts an estimated "There are only three counties during the same season. "Ours is Snappy Idareds are their 315.5 million pounds on in On ario which don't grow an entertainment farm with pony tastiest beginning in December $43.5-million in total (fesh Macs. M~acs are a big seller bath rides, cider-making demonstra- and do not need ta be held in a market and processed) apple on the roadsides and as a tions, a children's play area and low oxygen controlledi production for 1988. The pick-yoýir-own product." more." atinosphere. They will keep crisp McIntosh, Ontario's »umber one Tm Chudieigh, owner of Apples grow abundantly in in od orewllntth selling apple, makes' up ChudleImh's Apple Farai, talks the Grey, H-aldimand-Norfolkr, spring. Spys are. great cold approixnately one-thirdi or about the trends in the Nortbumnberland, Middlesex 'and storage apples, keeping until, $15.7-xmllion of total Ontario pick-you'r-own apple industrY. Essex counties. Many varieties of March. Keévin Kerr, plant apple production. Spy apples Indiviluals are purchasing less apples can be enjoyed fresh from industry brandih, Ontario contribute about 17 per cent at apples but sales are high because market beginning in late July Ministry Ã"f Agriculture and Food, $7.3-million and Idared about more people are coming out te * and continuing right up until states, Idareds are loved in the $1.6-million. pick. We try ta provide different mid-October. processing industry because they *Approximately 5 per cent or ideas fôr product usage such as Feel lucky, Ontario, because are a dual purpose apple. They, $2.2-million of total Ontarijoape gift ideas ,beause nowadays, the apple season doesn't, -end store wellfor fresh eating and are prdcin oe. wn hta Fvliü'thàii. <ttherej Most Macs are heldi In a exceltéfit- rce W*.Sps r great for cooking and make excellent apple juice." 0 Ontarians aren't the. only ones who crave apples. Ontario experts about 17 per cent of its total apple production as fresh and about il per cent as processed apples. Great Britain and the *United States are the largest purchasers. a To locate an apple pick-your-own farmn near you, oel the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation at 1-800-ONTARIO, ta order a free pick-your-own list, or in Toronto cail (416) 965-4008; write ta Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Consumer Information Centre, 801 Bay Street, Tarante, M7A 2B2, or visit your local Ministry of Agriculture and Food office- or Ontario travel iÃŽifôrffiatiohecefitré.f ' -01 ~'nre