Apples! Apples! Apples!

Fall is a wondrous season. Flaming leaves, gourds and pumpkins, hayrides and harvest festivals, and my favorite...apple season. Loads of sweet, juicy, crunchy varieties are brimming over displays in supermarkets and farmers markets tempting us with their apple allure.

We eat them off the vine and transform them into heavenly apple torts, crisps, muffins, pies and pastries.
From Abermarle Pippin to Yellow Transparent there are well over 75 varieties to explore and experience, like 'Jonagold' - a cross of Jonathan and Golden Delicious.

Last weekend, as I was shopping for produce, I finally broke out of my comfort zone of automatically reaching for McIntosh, Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples to recognize I was stuck in an apple rut.

Yes, I love the crisp sweet/tart taste of McIntosh and the tang of Fuji but 'Sheep Nose' "Seek No Further' or 'Wealthy'? Hmm. Admittedly, I'm stumped. Never tried 'em. 'Wealthy' is described as a "superb all purpose apple with perfect texture and complex flavors." Sounds like a fine wine.

Yes, friends, it's apple season, and this year I vow to discover new varieties of the Biblical "forbidden fruit" and share my thoughts on what new apple was divine or "fell far from the tree." Let me know your little-known apple favorites and why you love 'em! And don't forget to share your best apple recipes!

~Lynne GMG

Photos credits Wikipedia Commons