It's Feeling Like Fall

Ahh, the soothing feel of the Fall season in Oklahoma. It makes one look forward to cool Friday nights watching football and the Jackets triumphantly running the table on the remainder of the regular season. But what else can we do with our time? Watch Prime Time football you say? Not if the Broncos are playing. I seriously wonder if they can beat chizzum, Mannford, Mt. St. Mary (still haven't seen a mountain around that place) combined.

For many people, especially in the Northeast, the Fall means one thing- it's apple picking season! Time to get out the flannels and J. Crew overpriced boots, grab a bushel basket and head to the apple orchard. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the greatest apples that have ever been picked.

Now, I know what you're thinking, what the hell are we doing reading about frickin' apple pickin'? Well, just in case you haven't read Murray's post, McLoud doesn't pose much of a threat, so deal with it and on with the show...

Red Delicious

These are the ones that you see everywhere. They are great for bobbing and your grandmother's fruit salad. While Red Delicious apples are just that, delicious, they have a super mild, simple flavor that doesn’t tend to stand out when cooked into dishes or used in pie. So, they’re best eaten as a snack all on their own. You’ll notice they tend to be top-heavy.

Golden Delicious

Unrelated to the Red Delicious apple, Golden Delicious apples are soft with a thin skin. This is one variety you want to eat or freeze as soon as possible. You can cook with them, bake with them, or eat raw.

Granny Smith

Granny Smith apples are the light green superstar in the grocery store. They are crisp and a little tart, so they taste delicious with sweet dips, but you can also pair them with savor dishes. Their peak season is during October and November. Because they are firm with tough skin, they’re a very versatile kitchen ingredient.

Fuji

On the sweeter side, Fuji apples are a relative to red delicious apples and make a great flavor enhancer. They have a milder flavor, so they are great in dishes that need a little something extra without overpowering the other ingredients. They are best raw, in salads or slaws or sauces.

And now, for the Cadillac...the best... the A Number One...Sofies, I present to you the best apple available today.....

Honeycrisp

This super crisp apple has just the right balance of sweet, tart, and juicy flesh, an autumn favorite that is high in demand. The skin is blush red with undertones of green. They require tempering at a mild temperature before refrigerating by producers, which tends to drive the price higher. The juice is often used to make apple cider. It cooks up nicely and holds its shape in desserts, savory dishes, or can be pureed for sauces.

There you have it, dear readers, the un-official yet highly scientific and exhaustively researched, definitive proof of the best apples available during the start of apple picking season.

Grab a few of the Granny Smiths or Red Delicious to toss at the McLoud fans if you'd like.