It’s Apple Season!

It is Apple Season! These days, there are so many varieties of apples available that you may be wondering which variety to buy.  Which apple is best for a specific use, how to store apples for best quality, or how many apples are in a pound or bushel?

Apples are considered a great snack food as an average sized apple contains about 90 calories and is about 85% water. That makes them thirst quenching and a quick energy provider with their natural sugars, plus the bulky pulp makes the eater feel full.  They also make a great portable snack; take one along to work, school, or when you are running errands.

Apples may be displayed in a fruit bowl at room temperature for a short period of time but that will dramatically reduce their usable life. Apples will last the longest when kept close to 32 degrees. For most of us that would mean the refrigerator. Apples stored near 32 degrees in perforated plastic bags or covered containers will last 8-10 times longer than if stored at room temperature.

Here are some fun apple math facts:

APPLE ARITHMETIC
3 medium sized apples equal approximately 1 pound
Pared and sliced, 1 pound apples yields 2 3/4 cups
A peck of apples weighs 10.5 pounds
A bushel of apples weighs 42 pounds
A bushel of apples will yield 15 – 20 quarts of applesauce

The best baking apples offer a balance of sweet and tart flavors as well as flesh that doesn’t break down in the oven.

·         Granny Smith apples are generally thought of as the go-to baking apples but there are others that hold up well under heat and balance the sweet-tart flavor.

·         The crisp texture of the Honey Crisp apple will hold firm when baked or caramelized.

·         Pink Lady apples will retain a distinct shape when diced and added to coffee cake or muffins. 

·         Jonathans are tart and tangy and have been pie favorites for many years.

·         Red Delicious are not good for baking. They are mild-flavored, sweet, and juicy.

·         Other apples good for eating fresh are Gala, Fuji, and Braeburn.  These apples also work well in salads.

Enjoy apple season this year and have fun experimenting with different variety combinations in your baking. Following is a favorite apple recipe. Enjoy.

Fruit Crisp

4 cups apples (peeled and sliced) or 1 can (29 ounces) sliced peaches in light syrup or juice, drained

1/2 cup quick or old fashioned rolled oats

1/3 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour

1/3 cup white or brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup margarine or butter, cold (cut into chunks)

1/4 cup dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease or spray with cooking spray the bottom of an 8” round or square pan. Spread sliced apples or drained peaches over bottom of pan. Stir together the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the margarine using a pastry cutter, knives, or by squeezing through your clean hands. (It will be easier to spread on the fruit with smaller chunks.) Add dried fruit or nuts, if desired. Sprinkle flour mixture over fruit. Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until topping is golden and fruit is bubbly.

Source: Iowa State University’s Spend Smart, Eat Smart

Trunk or Treat and Halloween Activities

Trunk or Treat and Halloween activities are festive days that kids enjoy, because they get dressed up and get treats. For health-conscious parents, these days can be tricky.  Do you set limits? Do you let kids decide how much to eat? I found advice on the KidsHealth.org and Clemson Cooperative Extension websites that I thought worthy of passing along.

There isn't just one right answer. Instead, use your best judgment based on your child's personality and eating habits.  Kids who generally eat just a couple of pieces and save the  rest might be trusted to decide how much to eat. But if your child tends to overdo it, consider setting limits. Here are some more tips for handling the treats:

·         Before kids go trick-or-treating, try to serve a healthy meal so they're not hungry when the candy starts coming in. 

• Know how much candy your child has collected and don't store it in his or her bedroom. Having it so handy can be an irresistible temptation for many kids.
• Consider being somewhat lenient about candy eating on Halloween, within reason, and talk about how the rest of the candy will be handled.  Candy and snacks shouldn't get in the way of kids eating healthy meals.
• If a child is overweight — or you'd just like to reduce the Halloween stash — consider buying back some or all of the remaining Halloween candy. This acknowledges the candy belongs to the child and provides a treat in the form of a little spending money.
• Be a role model by eating candy in moderation yourself. To help avoid temptation, buy your candy at the last minute and get rid of any leftovers.
• Encourage your kids to be mindful of the amount of candy and snacks eaten — and to stop before they feel full or sick.

You also can offer some alternatives to candy to the trick-or-treaters who come to your door. Here are some treats (individually wrapped items are best) you might give out:

• treats to promote physical activity like bouncy balls, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, or plastic/foam fliers;
• snacks such as small bags of pretzels, sugar-free gum, sugar-free candy, trail mix, small boxes of raisins, and popcorn;
• small boxes of cereal, cereal bars animal crackers;
• non-food treats, like stickers, toys, temporary tattoos, false teeth, little bottles of bubbles and small games, like tiny decks of cards (party-supply stores can be great sources for these);
• consider being a part of the Teal Pumpkin Project which has raised awareness of those children with food allergies and their struggles to enjoy trick or treating. You can take part in this project by providing non-food treats and displaying a teal pumpkin in front of your home/vehicle trunk to indicate to passersby that you have non-food treats available.

Steer clear of any snacks or toys — like small plastic objects — that could pose choking hazards to very young children.

And remember that Trunk or Treat/Halloween, like other holidays, are a single day on the calendar.  If your family eats sensibly during the rest of the year, it will have a more lasting impact than a few days of overindulgence.

For additional information on children’s health, contact Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s Wise County Extension office at 940/627-3341.

Kitchen Gadgets 101

Do you ever wonder if the newest gadgets or appliances in the kitchen will be a good fit for your family? Is an Air Fryer, Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot), or Sous Vide machine on your Christmas list but you just aren’t sure which one? It can be quite a challenge to keep up with the latest and greatest ‘as seen on TV’ item.  With these thoughts in mind our Texas A&M AgriLife Extension –Wise County program area committees and Leadership Advisory Board have been busy planning our first ever Kitchen Gadget 101 program.  Scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, 2018 beginning at 6pm in the Lecture Hall at Weatherford College Wise County, you will hear presentations from real people with samples of food from three alternative methods of cooking.

Before you splurge on another kitchen appliance, join us to learn more about pressure cookers, air fryers and sous vide cooking. We plan to provide information that addresses the advantages, benefits, versatility, ease of use, approximate costs and ways to prepare a healthy meal.

Cooking sous-vide is becoming a popular cooking technique and works by submerging vacuum-sealed food into a precisely heated water bath.   The food cooks evenly at a constant temperature without losing any of its original taste, aroma, color, or fat content.  Sous vide cooking claims to cook perfect meals that will impress your guests with an unconventional way of preparing meat, fish, veggies and even dessert.

Pressure cookers prepare food using steam that is tightly sealed in a special pot. Once the lid is closed, the correct amount of pressure is selected based on the recipe.  Many people eat pressure-cooked food because they believe it’s healthier, tastier, and easier/faster to prepare. Are the end results as great as the claims?

And finally, an air fryer cooks food with hot air instead of a lot of oil. It combines several different cooking methods in one convenient appliance. The convection action converts the small amount of oil you use into a fine mist that coats the food as it circulates making it a very healthy appliance to have in the kitchen. What makes the air fryer a great choice to add to your kitchen appliances?

Join us to find out if one of these products would make a great gift or should be added as a tool in your kitchen! The cost of the program, which helps to cover the cost of handouts and food samples, is $20 per person or $30 per couple. You may register and receive information on how to make payment by contacting the Extension office at 940-627-3341.  Space is limited.

Food Handler's Course

Foodborne illnesses can be prevented by following simple food safety practices.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension-Wise County provides a Food Protection Management Training Program that seeks to reduce the risk of food borne illness. 

Food service employees and those who operate a cottage food business can attend a two hour food handler’s class on Thursday, October 18, 2018 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Wise County Extension office in Decatur to learn more about good personal hygiene, cross contamination and time and temperature abuse. The registration fee is $20.00 and covers course materials and an official food handler card. The deadline for registration is Tuesday, October 16.  Space is limited.

The Texas Cottage Food Law requires that anyone who operates a cottage food business have a food handler card.  The food law allows the following list of foods that can be sold: baked goods, jams and jellies, dried herbs, pickles, popcorn snacks, candy, unroasted nut butters, and vinegar. These foods can also be sold at venues outside the home including farmers markets, roadside stands, and fairs. 

For questions concerning the food handler class or the Texas Cottage Food Law please call 940/627-3341 or come by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s, Wise County Office, 206 S. State St., Decatur, Texas 76234. The Food Protection Management (FPM) Training Program is brought to you by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in cooperation with the Texas Department of State Health Services, and the County Commissioners Court Cooperating.

Community Activities

As you look forward to the many community activities taking place in October, there is one event in particular that I encourage you to attend.

The 21^st Annual Greenwood Fall Festival sponsored by the Greenwood Extension Education Club is scheduled for Saturday, October 13 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  You’ll enjoy a parade beginning at 10:00 am and immediately following the parade, handcrafted arts and craft booths will be open.  Featured activities will be children’s train rides, food and game booths, silent auction items and door prizes. Booth space is available for $10 by contacting Gerry Galloway at 940/627-7999 or Linda Hood at 940/389-8497.

Prior to the event contact a Greenwood EE member to purchase raffle tickets on a $750 Cabela’s Gift Card, $500 Walmart Gift Card or a beautiful ‘Garden Glory’ Quilt.

Proceeds from the event are donated to the following local groups and more:  Angel Fund, Greenwood Buyers Association, CASA, Wise County 4-H, Greenwood/Slidell Fire Department, Slidell School Library, Sonflower Camp, Wise Hope Crisis Center and the North Texas Stockings for Soldiers Campaign.

For those unsure of finding Greenwood, it is a short, scenic drive out of Decatur on Highway 51 North for 10 miles to FM 1204, turn left and travel approximately five miles into the community of Greenwood.

To obtain more information on any of the activities discussed, please telephone the Extension office at 940/627-3341. I hope to see you at this Community Event.