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The
apple is said to be at the beginning of the peopling of Earth. The native
home of the apple is not definitely known, but it is thought the tree
originated in the area between the Caspian and the Black seas. Charred
remains of apples have been found in the prehistoric lake dwellings of
Switzerland--where William Tell gained fame by shooting an apple off his
son's head at the order of invaders of that country. Apples were a
favorite fruit of the ancient Greeks and Romans and their mythology refers
to apples as symbols of love and beauty. When the Romans conquered England
about the first century B.C., they brought apple cultivation with them.
Apple Traditions
Tips on Handling, Preparing &
Cooking with Apples
All
About Apples
Apple
Traditions
Tips on Handling Apples
Apple Recipes
The Pilgrims discovered crabapples had preceded them to America, but the
fruit was not very edible. The Massachusetts Bay Colony requested seeds
and cuttings from England, which were brought over on later voyages of the
Mayflower. Records of the Massachusetts Bay Company indicate that apples
were grown in New England as early as 1630. Seeds were carried westward by
missionaries, traders, and Native Americans. One man alone, John Chapman
(Johnny Appleseed), was responsible for extensive plantings of apple trees
in the midwestern United States.
The modern tradition of tossing rice at the happy couple evolved from an
ancient practice of throwing apples at weddings. In early Greek history,
the apple figured in courtship as well as the rites and customs of
marriage. A happy couple in the seventh century B.C. might share an apple
as a symbol of their marriage and hopes for a fruitful union. Greek and
Roman mythology referred to apples as symbols of love and beauty-- where
we inherited the expression "The apple of our eye!"
* An Irish and Scottish custom prescribed throwing
an apple peel over one's shoulder, which would form the initial of your
lover's name.
* The game of
apple-bobbing began as a Celtic New Year's tradition for trying to
determine one's future spouse. Fresh apples float because 25 percent of
their volume is air.
* The expression "an apple a day keeps the
doctor away" actually comes from an old English saying, "Ate an apfel
avore gwain to bed, makes the doctor beg his bread." (Eat an apple
before going to bed makes the doctor beg his bread.)
* The apple is a member of the rose family, which includes over one
hundred genera and over two thousand species of herbaceous plants,
shrubs and trees.
By Teresa Johnson
* 1 pound of apples yields 4 cups when chopped or
sliced, and 1 1/2 cups of applesauce.
* 1 pound of apples may contain 4 small, 3 medium, or 2 large apples.
* Apple juice and apple cider can be used interchangeably in recipes.
* 2-2 1/2 pounds of apples will suffice for a 9 to 10 inch pie. That
means 9-10 small apples, 7-8 medium apples, or 5 large ones.
* Overripe apples, once the bruises have been removed, make good
applesauce or cider.
* Under ripe apples can be chopped, diced, or sliced, and grated for
sautéing with vegetables or for putting into cakes, muffins, pies, and
other cooked dishes.
* Sliced or cut apples will stay white longer if dropped into a bowl of
water containing 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. ( Cortland and Golden
Delicious do not discolor as quickly as other varieties).
*When recipes call for unpeeled apples, the apples always should be
washed first. That not only ensures the removal of dirt or contaminants
accumulated during handling and transportation, but eliminates the
possibility of residual pesticide consumption.
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