keeps my appetite at bay
BY ALISA BARRY

You know it is wintertime when the freshly pressed cider is simmering in a large pot, wafting perfume scents through
the air at the farmers market. I inhale the sweetness and carefully slurp down a sip.

There are apples everywhere! So many varieties of apples in as many different shades of red, yellow and green. Some varieties I recognize and many more I have never even known. Lady apples, crabapples and gorgeous Galas are just a few. Heirloom apples are now making a comeback and although their skins are sometimes not as pretty, their sweetness is unrivaled.

Recipes come to mind as I scan the crates with mounds of apples. Fresh apple pies and crisps. Cranberry-apple sauce. Canned apples in sweet syrup with a floating half of fresh vanilla bean. I remember my own mom making apple fritters from the tart green apples from the trees in our backyard. Dusted in powdered white sugar, I would discretely sneak just one more warm ring of fried dessert deliciousness before dinner. (Note to self: Get mom’s recipe! I imagine they will never be quite as good as I remember ... but it sure will be fun testing out that theory.)

One of my own favorite ways to cook with and eat apples is to roast them in the oven. A pat of butter and a sprinkle of sugar are a necessary embellishment to help them cook down to a delicate softness and sweetness. They are perfectly wonderful on their own as a condiment with roasted pork.

As a dessert, I like them stuffed with golden raisins and walnut halves. A dollop of fresh mascarpone cream and a drizzle of the sugary sweet caramelized sauce finish off the feast.

So whether or not it is an old wives’ tale, an apple a day sounds like a pretty delicious prescription to me.

Buon appetito!

Alisa Barry is creator of the award-winning company Bella Cucina. Visit her blog for more inspiration and recipe ideas for summertime simplicity: http://bellacucinablog.blogspot.com.