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An Apple A Day

10 October 2022
homemade tasty sweet orange pumpkin muffins or cupcakes with white cream, lavender, zest, nuts

By: June Owens

The old saying goes, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.” This saying comes from an old English adage, “To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread.” And if you’re wondering, there is definitely some truth to this. A medium apple comes in at about 80 calories and is fat, sodium, and cholesterol free. With each one containing 5 grams of fiber (mostly in the peel), it’s no wonder the have proven to help with gut and overall cardiovascular health. Scientists also generally agree that these little gems provide sweet benefits for our lungs, bones, brain, and immune system.

Take a spin around the local produce stand and you’ll quickly realize that not all are represented. There are over 7,500 varieties of apples grown throughout the world and 2,500 right here in the United States. The Red Delicious apple was the favorite for over 50 years; however, there’s a new star in town. Drumroll please! Here are the top 5 apples of last year…

  1. Gala
  2. Red Delicious
  3. Granny Smith
  4. Fuji
  5. Honeycrisp

 

There’s so much history to the apple and yes, George Washington did indeed tend to his apple orchard. Here are some other fun facts…

  • Apples are a member of the rose family.
  • Apple trees take 4 to 5 years to produce their first fruit.
  • It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce 1 apple.
  • Most apples are still picked by hand in the fall.
  • The largest apple picked weighed 3 pounds.
  • In colonial times, apples were called winter banana or melt-in-the-mouth.
  • Apples ripen 6 to 10 times faster at room temperature than if they were refrigerated.
  • It takes about 36 apples to create one gallon of apple cider. As you gear up for National Apple Cider Day in November, check out some additional information on this sweet treat at https://www.daytonymca.org/blog/national-apple-cider-day.
  • A peck of apples weight 10.5 pounds.
  • A bushel of apples weights about 42 pounds and will yield 20-24 quarts of applesauce.
  • Apples and pumpkins make a great combination. With that being said, here’s a fantastic fall recipe to incorporate the flavors of the season in your home…

Apple Pumpkin Muffins

What You Need

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups finely chopped peeled apples

TOPPING >>> ¼ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoons butter

WHAT YOU DO:

  • Combine flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
  • Mix eggs, pumpkin, and oil in another bowl and then incorporate into the dry ingredients, just until moistened.
  • Gently fold in apples.
  • Fill oiled muffin tins (approximately 18) about ¾ full.
  • Combine first 3 TOPPING ingredients (sugar, flour, and cinnamon), cut in butter in small pieces until a coarse crumbly mixture develops, and then sprinkle over each muffin.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool 10 minutes and then remove from pan to a cooling rack.
  • Enjoy 😊
 
About the Author

June Owens is an Early Childhood Education specialist who spent over 25 years managing programs and implementing quality improvement strategies throughout multiple states. She married her husband Bob, a US Navy veteran, in 1985, has 2 children, 2 grandchildren, and is a member of the Y at the Heights.