They say that an apple a day will keep the doctor away. I believe it. Apples are full of all kinds of fiber and nutrients and they make a perfect on-the-go snack. They’re also incredibly cheap and in great abundance this time of year, so they’re great for your budget and your waistline.

For years, I thought I didn’t like apples. Growing up I had only tasted the waxy, Red Delicious variety (which are mushy and gross) and the really tart Granny Smiths. Today, I still think both types are awful. But in college, my friend gave me a bunch of apples picked fresh from her grandmother’s tree and I was hooked. I had no idea how delicious an apple could taste – both sweet and crunchy. It’s a good thing I was willing to try them again as an adult or I’d never know what I’d been missing out on.

Recently we raided a friend’s overflowing apple tree and I decided to conquer my fears and make something homemade. I am not the kind of gal who has spent hours canning fruit, growing my own veggies, or meticulously stitching a quilt. I commend all of those who do, but every time I try to find my inner homemade guru side I seem to fall on my face. In fact, my husband (who enjoys cafeteria food and any mystery casserole covered in cheese—or in other words, he has non-discriminate taste buds) took two bites of my homemade bread and said, “This is inedible.” I don’t think he’d ever uttered those words in all the years I’d ever known him.

So, when I went off to make applesauce I was thrilled to see how well it turned out despite the many unforeseen twists and turns in the cooking process. (There were too many twists, turns, and substitutions for me to publish the recipe.) Even better, my children loved it despite the fact that there’s no added sugar and I left the peels on. I caught one of my children finishing off a jar in front of the TV recently and she confessed it was her second jar. Wow! Needless to say, I was impressed with myself.

In the spirit of apple season I thought I’d share my own experiences of triumph and pass on a listing of lots of apple recipes. Try one out and enjoy the flavors of fall.

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/specialfeature/apples_sf/

Question: What’s your favorite way to cook with apples?