I love fall apples. They are crisp and new, a little tart, a little sweet. They are a delight in every way, and so different from the dull apples that you find on store shelves at the beginning of spring.
There are so many ways to celebrate fall with your baby. How can you enjoy fall apples? Visit a farmer’s market or even a local apple farm. In our area, this means a drive, but if you have a little one who is up to the challenge, put him in the baby carrier and head out apple picking! It’s never too early to show children where food comes from.
We have a local apple festival and a host of farmer’s markets. If you have the space, plant an apple tree. There are dwarf rootstocks with heritage apple varieties grafted onto the root, so you can have a small tree with fabulous historic apple flavors. Try to move beyond the apple species that you see in the store and explore new flavors. Heritage apples have a unique taste: like wine, they have undertones of honey, spice, sweetness and tart that are not as prominent in the major commercial varieties.
When you bring the apples home, what to do with them then? Here are ten ideas of culinary apple delights to share with your baby this fall:
• Steamed apples: Core and slice apples and put them into the steamer. Steamed apple slices are good for older babies who are teething and also learning how to use their teeth to chew on larger pieces of food.
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Baked apples: Similar to steamed apples. Make baked apples as a dessert for the whole family. Use brown sugar and cinnamon for those over baby age! Make sure that you remove the peel so that baby doesn’t choke on it – cooked apple peels can be hard to swallow.
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Apple sauce: The classic. Use apples that have a combination of sweet and tart flavors.
• Dried apples: If you’re feeling ambitious, core and slice apples horizontally and dehydrate them in the over or in a dehydrator. These are also good for teething babies to gum, as long as you dehydrate the apples until they are a little flexible and not too poky.
• Apple skins: Dry apple skins until they are lightly crunchy. Use organic apples, as a lot of pesticides will reside in the skin. These are good practice for an older baby or toddler.
• Apple and pear sauce: There are many lovely combination sauces that you can make with apples. Add pears for a richer flavor. Use a tart apple so that the sauce has some bite.
• Apple and blueberry smoothie: For older babies, mix yogurt, applesauce, and blueberries for a fall smoothie that is full of antioxidants.
• Apple and blackberry mash: Mash blackberries and strain them, then add applesauce. This is a fall delight! The best way to make mash? Go out blackberry picking first, of course!
• Apple and squash pie: Combine some apple juice, apple sauce, and mashed pumpkin to make a baby-style pumpkin pie.
• Apple and quinoa cereal: Quinoa is a fabulous source of iron and protein. It also has a pleasant and mildly nut-like flavor. This grain is a good choice for babies because it is gluten-free and hypo-allergenic. Combine it with apples for a morning meal.
How are you celebrating fall with your baby?