Sunday, October 23, 2016

An Apple a Day

This is apple season here in Michigan.  I live in what used to be farm country and around here folks grew apples.  As a matter of fact, back in the early 1980's, before everything got re-developed, my kids went to Apple Tree Nursery School on the site of an old orchard.

I love apples, but I am very choosy in what I like.  I hate mealy apples.  Keep me away from McIntosh. And why does anyone want to eat a Granny?

Growing up, my favorite was Cortland, a McIntosh cultivar but much sweeter and crisper IMO.  But now you only see them at cider mills, if at all.  For the last several years I have been paying dearly (when they are not on sale) for Honeycrisp.  I could eat several a day.

A few weeks ago I went to buy Honeycrisp, but I noticed that in the same bin were apples labeled SweeTango.  I figured they were another variety of Honeycrisp and I bought them.  They are DELICIOUS!

I went on the web (thank you again Google)  and found that indeed they are a variety of Honeycrisp, a cross between Honeycrisp and Zestar - which I have never even heard of.  The next week when I went back to the market, SweeTango had their own spot.

If you love just eating apples, I can highly recommend SweeTango - if you can find them.  Remember, an apple a day...


17 comments:

  1. how nice you told us about the Sweet Tango. My favorite has always been cortland too.Maybe Gly's in Hillsdale Mi will have the new ones. Happy Sunday Denise.

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  2. Interesting. I rarely eat apples but Matt does and mostly eats Golden Delicious. He also quite enjoys Granny Smith. One thing I do miss is the cooking apples we used to have in the UK. Bramleys. They were excellent for the job.

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    1. Not a fan of goldens either, but I do like baking with Granny Smith. Just made a very good pumpkin apple bread with them.

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    2. Went shopping this afternoon and bought Matt one SweeTango apple for him to try. He enjoyed it and I had a slice and thought it was good too. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  3. I will have to look for them at the store, they sound delicious.

    Betty

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  4. I eat 2 apples every day and I always by golden delicious. These apples look really good so I have to keep an eye out for them

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  5. I don't care for anything mealy.
    Coffee is on

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  6. Ugh, mealy apples are the worst!!! I've always been a fan of red Delicious, crispy. But I cook with Granny, Cortland, and Macouns. 🍎🍏

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  7. I haven't heard of Sweet Tango. My favorite has always been Gala. I hate mealy apples too! They have to be crisp and juicy!

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  8. When the kids were little we used to drive to SW Michigan (around Bridgman or Berrien Springs) to pick apples (and sometimes blueberries or strawberries earlier in the year. I do love apples, especially if baked into an apple pie. Have never tried SweeTango - will have to keep my eyes open for it.

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  9. We are so fortunate to live in apple country here. Although the apple crop wasn't that good this year, it is a wonderful thing, in bountiful years, to get many of the old fashioned variety. My faves for eating are Honeycrisp and Gala. Heirlooms like 20 oz and Northern Spy for baking. I've had SweeTango too, but it is very expensive here, compared to the usual local apples. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. I never said they were cheap, but I found them for 1.99 a pound vs. the 3.99 they charge for Honeycrisp. But still worth it IMO.

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  10. Thanks for the recommendation. We usually eat honey crisp or gala, but have never seen SweeTangos. I don't know if they ever get down to our area, but will try them if they do. I am very much looking forward to apple season.

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  11. I honestly can't tell the difference between different apple types...well, except for red vs. green!

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  12. We do get several varieties of apples in my city many of them imported! They have a huge shelf life but are quite tasty. However I prefer to buy the ones that grow in India... sadly I havent bothered to find out their names... something I will do on my next market visit!

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    1. I once mistakenly bought Braeburn and knew as soon as I tasted it I had picked up the wrong apples. Made some really good apple cobbler with them. We have many varieties in stores here and I always check the labels.

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