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Frugal Fun, Cheap Eats Your family’s had its fill of apple pie and you don’t know what to do with all the leftover fruit from apple-picking? Don’t let them go to waste—try these fresh ideas. Read full article
Your family’s had its fill of apple pie and you don’t know what to do with all the leftover fruit from apple-picking? Don’t let them go to waste—try these fresh ideas.
By Leslie Barrie
1. Souped Up
Your kids will giggle with glee when you serve them their favorite soup in an apple bowl. Just follow these instructions from the Washington State Apple Commission: Slice off the top 1/5 of an apple (stem and all). Then take a melon ball scooper and carve out the center so that it’s hollow in the middle. Wash out any apples bits with water, ladle in the soup, and serve!
2. Healthy Chips
If you and your kids love chips, use your apples to make your own, healthier version. Try this recipe from the Ontario Apple Growers: Preheat oven to 200 F. Thinly slice 2 apples crosswise about 1/8-inch (2 mm) thick. Arrange apple slices in a single layer on parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheets. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Put mixture into a sieve and sprinkle evenly over apple slices. Bake at 200 F in the top third of the oven until apples are dry and crisp; about 2 hours. Remove from oven and let chips cool completely before eating.
3. “Candied” Apples
Gather your kids around the kitchen table to make this fun variation of the classic candied apple: Spread a box of dry Jell-O powder (Sugar-free or sweetened in any flavor) on a plate. Take halved apples and dip the cut side of each in the gelatin. The colors will brighten as the gelatin picks up the apple’s juice. Eat immediately or refrigerate for up to one hour before serving.
4. Front And Center
Hail in autumn with a cheery apple centerpiece on your dining table. Have your kids go in the yard and pick a bunch of pretty fall leaves. Spread them out on the bottom of a large platter. Put two pillar candles in the middle, and pile on five or six apples (the more varieties the better) and small gourds or other autumn fruit. Just be sure to keep an eye on the centerpiece when the candles are lit.
5. See Stars
Is it an apple? Or a star? For a super-easy craft, turn an apple on its side and chop it in half horizontally (not top to bottom) to reveal the star-shaped seeded core. Dip it in finger paint and use it as a stamp to create star shapes.
6. Skin Treat
Apples are full of vitamins and antioxidants that can rejuvenate tired dry skin. Just combine pureed apple with honey and wheat germ or uncooked oatmeal to create a slightly thick paste. Apply and leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse and pat dry.
7. Cider Rules
Nothing says cozy like apple cider. And it’s a lot simpler to make than you might think. We like the cinnamon-y, zesty Hot Mulled Cranberry Cider recipe [http://www.nycider.com/cidermull.htm] from the New York Apple Association. Adults can add a splash of Calvados for an extra kick!
8. Apple Heads
Turn your bruised apples into a fun art project. First, let your child break off the stem and shave off the apple skin with a peeler (young children may need help). Then, use a knife (you’ll want to take over at this point) to cut into the flesh, carving out eyes, a nose, and mouth. The kids are sure to get a kick out of how human-like the apples look! Check the fridge for pieces of veggies and fruit that can be use for hair, lips, and other features.
9. Sweet Surprise
There’s something about the combination of crunchy apple slices and rich peanut butter that makes a perfect snack. Change it up—and make it easier to take along on fall hikes—by taking your smallest apples, cutting off the top, removing the core, and filling it in with peanut butter.
10. Apple Dippers
Here’s a great snack for game night or when you’re short on time: Slice several apples, put out a variety of dips—caramel, chocolate sauce, jam, peanut butter—and dip in!
Leslie Barrie is a writer and editor in New York City.
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