Bring Pennsylvania Apples to Your Family Holiday Table

PAMP Media Contact:
paapplespr@pennsylvaniaapples.org  

(Harrisburg, PA November 17, 2011) – The holidays are about spending time with family and friends. The Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program’s grower-members have some family-favorite recipes to share with you for the holiday season. From a simple yet tasty side dish, to a delicious salad, to scrumptious desserts, these holiday favorites are sure to bring a smile to your family celebration.

Search for variety use and additional recipes at pennsylvaniaapples.org.


Apple Cashew Salad
Provided by Susan McNitt, McNitts Fruit Farm, Milroy, PA

Ingredients:
1 head of lettuce
1/2 bag of spinach
1/2 pound baby Swiss cheese – grated
1 12-14 oz. can of whole cashews
4 small or 2 large red Pennsylvania apples – Slice and soak in lemon juice. Drain. (Add apples to salad just before tossing.)

Dressing:
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 tbsp. chopped onion

Add slowly to the above – 1 cup salad oil and 1 1/2 tbsp. poppy seeds. Make dressing 3 hours ahead in a small pitcher and refrigerate.  

Optional:
Add sliced strips of cooked chicken breasts for a luncheon salad entrée.


Four Fruit Compote
Provided by Kay Hollabaugh, Hollabaugh Bros, Biglerville, PA

1 20 oz. can pineapple chunks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges
4 unpeeled Pennsylvania apples
2 bananas, sliced

Directions:
Drain pineapple, reserving 3/4 cup juice. In a saucepan, combine sugar and corn starch. Add pineapple juice, orange juice and lemon juice. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Stir and cook 1 minute longer. Remove from heat.

In a bowl, combine fruits. Pour warm sauce over to coat.  Refrigerate. This is pretty served in a glass bowl as the fruit does not get brown!  


Apple Dumplings
Provided by Carolyn Cowher, Dawsons Orchard, Enon Valley, PA

Ingredients for sauce:
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 cup butter or margarine

Directions:
Combine sugar, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a 3-quart saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes; turn off heat. Add butter to sauce and let it melt.

Ingredients for dough:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup milk
6 small Pennsylvania apples, pared and cored

Directions:
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening. Add milk and stir with fork until flour mixture is moistened. Roll dough 1/4” thick. Cut into 6 equal parts. Place one apple on each square. Sprinkle generously with additional sugar and cinnamon and dot with butter. Fold corners and pinch together.
Place in 9x13 inch baking pan.  

Pour sauce over dumplings and bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.


Apple Chip Cake
Provided by Lorene Snyder, Dries Orchards, Sunbury, PA

Blend together:
1 1/4 cups oil
2 cups sugar
2 eggs

Add:
4 cup diced Pennsylvania apples

Sift together and add:
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Add:
1 cup nuts (if desired)
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
Bake in a long pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with granulated sugar while hot.


Apple Walnut Cake  
Provided by Strites Orchard, Harrisburg, PA

Ingredients:
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
4 cups unpeeled diced Pennsylvania apples
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
Beat together eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; mix into batter. Fold in apples and nuts.

Spread in a 13x9x2 pan and bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  Cool.  

Cream Cheese Frosting:
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2cups confectioner's sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients for frosting and whip until smooth. Spread over cake when cake has cooled.


Apple Brownies
Provided by Wilma Shatzer, Shatzer Fruit Market, Chambersburg, PA

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 cups finely grated Pennsylvania apples
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
Melt shortening and beat in sugar and vanilla, stir in eggs, sift dry ingredients and mix with egg mixture.

Stir in apples and nuts.  

Spread in greased 9-inch square pan.  

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Cut into 2-inch squares while brownies are still warm.  

Yields about 16 brownies.



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The Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program is a commodity marketing program established by the Commodity Marketing Act of 1968. The program is funded by apple growers and governed by a Board of Directors. The Board is composed of growers from various regions of the state and a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The website is www.pennsylvaniaapples.org.