All About Apples

Since tomorrow is the 1st of September, here in New York September is Apple Picking Time.
Farms are loaded with apples, here are some
FUN FACTS ABOUT APPLES

• Apples are a member of the rose family of plants, along with pears, peaches, plums and cherries.
• Apples come in all shades of red, green and yellow.
• Most apples are still picked by hand.
• It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider.
• 25 percent of an apple’s volume is air; that’s why they float.
• At last count, more than 7,500 apple varieties have been identified worldwide; more than 2,500 varieties are grown in the United States – 100 of which are grown for commercial sale.
• Apples are grown commercially in 36 states.
• A medium-sized apple has about 80 calories.
• Apples are fat-free, sodium-free and cholesterol-free. And they taste great, too!
• Apples are an excellent source of fiber; one medium apple contains 5 grams of fiber, including the soluble fiber pectin.
• A standard-size apple tree starts bearing fruit 8-10 years after it is planted. A dwarf tree starts bearing in 3-5 years.
• Most apple blossoms are pink when they open, but gradually transition to white.
• Apple trees can be grown farther north than other fruit trees because they bloom late in spring, minimizing the chance of frost damage.
• The largest U.S. apple crop was 277.3 million bushels, harvested in 1998.
• Archaeologists have found evidence that humans have been enjoying apples since 6500 BC.
• Newton Pippin apples were the first apples exported from America in 1768, some were sent to Benjamin Franklin in London.
• In 1730, the first apple nursery was opened in Flushing, New York.
• One of George Washington’s hobbies was pruning his apple trees.
• A bushel of apples weighs 42 pounds, and will yield 20-24 quarts of applesauce.

Here is a favorite muffin of mine this time of year when apples are fresh off the trees, a delicious and easy muffin. Great for your family, guests or just for yourself they can be made ahead and can be frozen besides. For me it's always hard just to have one and so with a freshly made cup of coffee
I might have two. 
Autumn Apple Muffins

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup sweet butter, melted
1 cup apple - peeled, cored and chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease 6 or 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners. Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together milk, egg and butter. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until combined. Fold in chopped apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

NOTES:   I use a 6 large muffin pan and I don't use the salt but that's me. Usually 1 good sized apple will make a cup chopped.

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Hope you enjoyed my copy and paste post today.
Until the next time dear family and friends, have a day of blessings.