Apple-y Ever After By Annee Jones

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A few weeks ago, I posted on the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog about the history of apple farming in North America. I discovered so much fascinating information about this topic that I decided to expand on it here. Archaeologists have found evidence of people eating apples since at least 6500 B.C. Did you know that apples are not native to North America? Genome testing reveals that the fruit actually originated in Kazakhstan (central Asia east of the Caspian Sea). In fact, the capital of Kazakhstan, Alma Ata, means “full of apples.”

The first apple trees in North America were grown in the late 1500s from seeds brought by French Jesuits.  The Pilgrims also brought young trees and seedlings from England and planted them in Massachusetts and throughout New England. Settlers traded fruit, trees, and seeds with American Indians. Apples were a staple in the diet of early pioneers, since they could be eaten fresh, fried, stewed, baked, and made into cider, vinegar, and brandy. Even mediocre apples could be cooked into preserves and apple butter, and the poorest fruit was used as livestock feed.

1880 to 1910 was knows as the “Apple Boom” in the south. By 1910 at the height of the period, North Carolina alone was producing ten million bushels for sale to other parts of the country.  However, over production, falling prices after WWI, and competition from the West Coast soon led to the decline of the apple industry in the eastern and southern states by the mid 20th century.

The proverb “an apple a day will keep the doctor away” first appeared in print in 1866 and comes from the tales of the Arabian Nights, in which a magic apple is found capable of curing all human diseases. In ancient Greece, to throw an apple at someone was to symbolically declare one’s love; and, to catch it was to show one’s acceptance of that love.

The fruit is not specifically named in the Old Testament’s Book of Genesis. It’s reputation as a “forbidden fruit” may actually be the result of a pun – the Latin word “malus” means both “apple” and “evil.”  The apple became a symbol for knowledge, temptation, and sin. The larynx in the human throat is called the “Adam’s apple” due to the idea that it was caused by the “forbidden fruit” remaining in the throat of Adam after the fall of man into sin.

Slice of delicious fresh baked apple pie with whipped cream. Extreme shallow depth of field with selective focus on slice of pie.

Speaking of folklore, who was Johnny Appleseed and how did he get this name? The real person behind the nickname was John Chapman of Massachusetts. He condemned grafting – an farming technique used to propagate specific varieties – insisting that the only “good” apple was that which arose from seeds. However, the only variety of the fruit in North America that grows naturally without propagation is the crab apple – known as the “common apple.”  Johnny began collecting seeds from Pennsylvania and ferrying them west. But because the apples were too sour to be eaten, they were primarily used to make cider and applejack (in other words, booze). Temperance activists condemned the apple as a source of sin and actually demanded that moral people burn their trees!

 

apple orchard background, agricultural, garden, agriculture, apple, autumn, background, blue, branch, crisp, delicious, fall, farm, food, fresh, fruit, green, harvest, health, healthy, leaf, nature, orchard, red, season, shine, sky, texture, tree

More fun facts:

  • Today there are over 7,000 apple varieties grown around the world
  • Apple trees take four to five years to produce their first fruit
  • The largest apples ever picked weighed over three pounds
  • One of George Washington’s hobbies was pruning apple trees
  • Apples will float in water because they are 25% air
  • Granny Smith apples were first grown by Maria Anne Smith in Australia in 1867

 

Here is a lovely vintage recipe from Taste of Home that is made with granny smith apples (though any variety will work).

International Cuisine – Desserts – Cake with “ricotta” cheese and sour apples.

Oma’s Apfelkuchen (Grandma’s Apple Cake)

Ingredients

  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 2 medium tart apples, peeled, cored and halved
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1-1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup 2% milk
  • Confectioners’ sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Let egg yolks stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Starting 1/2 in. from 1 end, cut apple halves lengthwise into 1/4-in. slices, leaving them attached at the top so they fan out slightly. Set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl, sift flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, baking powder and salt twice. Gradually beat into creamed mixture. Add milk; mix well (batter will be thick).
  3. Spread batter into a greased 9-in. springform pan wrapped in a sheet of heavy-duty foil. Gently press apples, round side up, into batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 45-55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove foil. Cool 1 hour longer. Remove rim from pan. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

 

I don’t know about you, but after learning about the history of the apple in agriculture and literature, I might not look the same way at the fruit again!  I hope you enjoy my book, Apples for Ashley, Book 2 of The Orchard Brides series. It will be published on April 4 and is available for pre-order here:

Annee is offering reader’s choice of any title from her backlist to one winner who answers the question…Do you have a favorite kind of apple or recipe?

BUY LINK: https://books2read.com/ApplesForAshley

 

Bibliography: 

Historic Apple Sites

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/history-of-apples

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/oma-s-apfelkuchen-grandma-s-apple-cake/

Photos: Courtesy of Deposit Photos

About Annee Jones

Annee Jones is a heartwarming romance and soon-to-be cozy mystery author who enjoys sharing her heart and imagination with others.  She is passionate about writing stories that offer readers a place where dreams come true!

Professionally, Annee works as a disability counselor where she helps her clients navigate through complex medical and legal systems while rediscovering their wholeness in Spirit.

Annee also enjoys freelance writing for Publishers Weekly and multiple publishing companies.

Subscribe to Annee’s newsletter on her website:  http://www.anneejones.com

 

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40 thoughts on “Apple-y Ever After By Annee Jones”

  1. Hi, Annee. I love apples and apple dishes and have compiled an entire book of apple recipes. Apple crisp is one of my favorites. I’m from North Carolina, that state known for its apple production in the mountain region. Areas like the Brushy Mountains, Hendersonville, and Waynesville have hundreds of orchards and still hold an annual apple festival.

    • Hi Janice! How fabulous – I’d love to see your apple recipe book sometime! A festival dedicated to apples sounds amazing – I’d love to visit!! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂

  2. Annee…I enjoyed your article about this subject! I love apples and am always going around to buy heirloom apples (the fruit, not the trees) when I hear about a new spot where I can purchase some. I do have one apple tree and it produces a lot every fall. When I was a child my dad put in a grafted tree that had four varieties on it, one yellow, one green and two reds and I thought that was pretty cool.

    • Thank you so much Rachel! Wow – what a neat apple tree!! What is your favorite variety? My daughter loves pink lady apples, while I prefer the tartness of granny smiths. 🙂

    • Ooooh, an Apple Blossom Festival sounds amazing!! I’d love to visit!! Thank you so much for sharing!

    • They are both definitely yummy!! My daughter likes pink lady apples, while I prefer the tartness of granny smiths. 🙂

  8. Loved reading your blog today Annee. We used to have six apple trees at our home. The bears and deer tend to be hard on them eating the fruit and branches. My favorite apple are Honeycrisp or Sweet Tango. I made an apple dessert yesterday using a puff pastry. So yummy.

    • Thank you so much Kathy, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! I included an Appendix in Apples for Ashley with recipes you may enjoy! 🙂

  10. Honeycrisp is one favorite of many. Apple cake; apple pancakes and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream (of course). Just a few of my favorites ;o)

    • Delicious choices! I included an Appendix in Apples for Ashley with several recipes you may enjoy! 🙂

  12. My favorite apple is a Macintosh. We makes applesauce which is delish and apple cake which is delectable.

  13. Apples are a staple in our home and we bake apples since they are so comforting and special. A favorite is a Jazz.

    • I love Jazz apples too – that is a wonderful (and rare) variety! I find apples very comforting as well – a reminder of home. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!

  14. Each fall we went apple picking. What a wonderful time we had. Huge bags filled with apples to the brim so that we could bake a lovely fall apple cake and homemade apple tart. For baking and cooking Spy’s were excellent. For eating we enjoyed Macs.

  15. Welcome Annee. Fun post today. I did not know they came from central Asia. Cool. My favorite apple is the Pink Lady. It is sweet but not too much so. When I make apple sauce or cook with apples I like to mix different kinds making the flavor both sweet and tart

  16. I loved your article, so much interesting information! My favorite apples are Honeycrisp and McIntosh. I love them for their crispness and their speccial sweet tart flavor. My favorite recipes are my mother’s 7-up Apple Dumplings made with Granny Smith apples and a Fruity Chicken Salad made with apples and dried cranberries.

  17. One of my uncle and aunt’s owned an apple orchard in NW GA for years. Soooo many different varieties!! One of my favorite things is fried apple pies that you fix with dried apples. Really, you can’t go wrong with an apple pie!

  19. I live in the Pacific northwest. Apples are everywhere. We have an apple harvest festival in my town every year. People make apple crisps, pies, turnovers, roses, juice, cider, cobbler, wassail, etc…. hay rides take you from station to station in town where there are various vendors, treats, activities, public servants, etc. I love it.

  21. I’m totally into Rocket Apples right now. Have you tried them? They’re super tiny! Some are barely bigger than cherries!
    They have most scrumptious flavor–floral and fruity and crispy!

    My favorite quick and yummy apple dessert is cutting an apple, sprinkling it with cinnamon, and microwaving for like 3-4 minutes. It cooks and turns naturally sweet, so it’s great if you’re trying to cut down on refined sugar. Plus it’s fast–a great backup dessert!

    Thanks!

  26. Fabulous blog. Thank you so much, Annee. It is wonderful to see you again. I loved my Aunt’s apple sauce cake when I was growing up. I love apple pie and dutch apple pie as well as apple crisp. God bless you.

  27. I love my recipe for French Apple Pie which is super delicious. I used to make it quite frequently back home in Iowa.

  28. I really don’t have a favorite recipe for apples. My sister use to make a lot of the fried apple pies which were most of the time made from the granny smite apples. Also my younger sister make some very good apple butter.

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