It’s Apple Season!

We’ve all heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but just what makes this tasty fall fruit so special?  

It turns out, the apple is a nutritional powerhouse packed with some impressive health benefits:

• Apples contain almost no fat, sodium, or cholesterol.
• They’re high in Vitamin C, a powerful natural antioxidant that boosts the body's resistance against infectious agents.
• Apples contain B-complex vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B-6). These vitamins are important in maintaining red blood cell counts and keeping the nervous system healthy.
• Apples are rich in polyphenolic compounds. These phytonutrients help protect the body from the detrimental effects of free radicals.
• Eating apples is linked to reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. This may also be due to their high polyphenol antioxidant content.
• They’re high in fiber. A high fiber diet can help prevent the development of certain diseases and may keep the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood from rising.
• The apple’s wealth of fiber can also keep you feeling full for longer without consuming a lot of calories. A medium-sized piece of fruit contains a mere 90 calories.
• They contain important minerals such as calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
• Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants and flavonoids, which may reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, and heart disease.

Apples are abundant right now and with so much to love about them, why not whip up this delicious, easy apple crisp?

Autumn Apple Crisp (makes 6 servings)

Filling:

• 6 medium apples - peeled, cored, and sliced (Granny Smith work well)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Topping:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 4 ounces chilled butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.

1. To make the filling: In a 9-inch pie pan that's 2 inches deep (or a similar baking pan), toss the apples with the sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
2. To make the topping: In a medium bowl, mix together all the topping ingredients with your fingers or a pastry cutter until small pebbly pieces of butter are distributed throughout the mixture.
3. Sprinkle the entire mixture over the apples.
4. Bake until the topping is golden and the fruit is bubbling and tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
5. Cool slightly before serving.
6. For an extra treat, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.