An Apple A Day...
Harvest season is upon us as the days get shorter, school is back in session, the air gets cooler and the warm fuzzy feeling of an LA winter starts to creep into our spirits. What better way to celebrate the start of this season then by giving special focus to an astounding fruit: the Apple!
History of the Apple
 The Apple tree, in the same family as Roses, has its roots in Central Asia (no pun intended). In early writings and storytelling, Apples had honorable mention, even confirming that early humans understood the art of grafting Apple trees to create different Apple varieties. Johnny Appleseed has become an American folklore icon, however, truly existed and spent most of his life spreading apple seeds and tending orchards.
Apple Festivals
Though not all in the surrounding LA area, these Apple Festivals are worth the added miles!
Apple Butter Festival at Riley's Farm
The Annual Thanksgiving weekend Apple Butter Festival celebrates the fine old tradition of Apple Butter making, and we invite families to come up and share in it. more info
Springville Apple Festival
The 30th Annual event takes place Oct 16 & 17th this year. The Apple Festival is a family oriented, non-profit, alcohol and drug free event that attracts more than 30,000 visitors each year. more info
Apple Harvest Festival in Fortuna
The 26th Annual Apple Harvest Festival will take place Saturday October 2nd, 2010. The event started in 1984, at Clendenen's Cider Works, as their Fortuna store celebrated their 75th anniversary in business. more info
Johnny Appleseed Days in Paradise, CA
Johnny Appleseed Days began in 1888 and was called the Harvest Home Festival with 301 people in attendance. The annual fall festival celebrated the 18 or more fruit orchards in the Paradise area. In 2010, the festival celebrates its 130th year on October 2 & 3. more info
Apple Health Benefits
"Research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. There is evidence that in vitro apples possess phenolic compounds which may be cancer-protective and demonstrate antioxidant activity." For more information on the health benefits of apples, click here.
Organic Apples vs Conventional Apples
Apples are listed among the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" foods that should be eaten organic because of the high level of pesticide use. In 2005, the last year results were available, the U.S. Department of Agriculture found pesticide residues on 98 percent of the apples it tested (all the residue was at levels within federal guidelines). Click here for the 2010 EWP's dirty dozen and clean fifteen printable cheat sheet.
Additionally, a 6-year study done in Washington State confirmed that organic apple-growing practices ranked the best overall in sustainability.
How do you know if your fruit is Organic, Genetically-Modified or Conventionally grown?
Check the numbers on the sticker. Organic produce has a four-digit code prefaced by a 9 (ex. Banana 94011), Conventional has just the four-digit code (ex. Banana 4011) and Genetically-Modified or Engineered has the four-digit code prefaced by an 8 (ex. 84011).
Fun Apple Recipes
There are over 10,000 varieties of Apples grown throughout the world. Visit homecooking.about.com for a description of popular varieties and which are best for cooking.
Apple Cheddar Melt
Ingredients; 1 Organic Apple, 10 or more Organic Crackers, 4 slices cheddar cheese
Preheat oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees. Quarter apple, then slice each quarter to bite-size pieces. Place crackers on baking sheet and layer with apple, then piece of cheese big enough to cover cracker. Bake for 3-4 minutes until cheese is melted.
Apples in Babyfood
Apples are a great first food for babies because they digest easily, are full of nutrients, are tasty and can be mushed for our toothless cuties. Peel, core and cut apples into quarters, then steam until soft. Puree the steamed apples in a blender until smooth. Add this puree to sweet potatoes, cereals, pears, bananas, blueberries, carrots, meat and poultry, and more. Or alternatively, add cinnamon, raisins and serve!
Apple Brownies
Ingredients: 1 Stick margarine, 1 c Sugar, 1 Egg; beaten, 1/2 c Chopped nuts, 2 md Apples; peeled, cored & finely chopped, 1 c Flour, 1/2 ts Baking powder, 1/2 ts Baking soda, 1/2 ts Salt, 1/2 ts Cinnamon
Cream margarine & add sugar gradually, beating until smooth. Beat egg separately until light & fluffy, then add to margarine mixture. Stir in nuts & chopped apples. Sift together dry ingredients & fold into batter with a spoon. Turn batter into a greased 7x11-inch baking pan. Bake 40 minutes at 350. Cool & cut into squares. Recipe may be doubled for a 9x13-inch pan.
This Week's Daily Safety Tips
September is still Baby Safety Month, so here are some tips for your week to make your homes a little safer for your wee ones.
Thursday
Check the Recall Lists
Check the recall lists to make sure your children's products, food or medicines have not been recalled. Visit ChildProductSafety.com for a comprehensive list of child product recalls. The FDA has their own list of recalls which can be found here.
Friday
Do a check-in with your child care or nanny
Remind your nanny or child care about the concerns you have for your child's safety. Clearly communicate foods to avoid, toys your children should refrain from playing with and any other concerns you may have. If your caregivers participate in cleaning, remind them about dangers of drowning in water buckets, poisoning from ingesting cleaning products and other hazards. Also, don't be afraid to provide guidelines about taking walks, driving in the car and other things that would be second-nature to you.
Saturday
Where are your household cleaning products?
Store cleaning products in a location away from your child's reach and access. Children can be resourceful, especially when they have been told not to play with something or go in a particular cabinet. It is best to avoid temptation altogether.
Sunday
Is Your Car Seat Installed Properly?
Read the manufacturer's guidelines for proper instructions on installing your car seat. For assistance and to double-check proper installation, visit an inspection center. To locate an inspection center near you, visit seatcheck.org.
Monday
Are Your Smoke Alarms Working?
Smoke alarms should be located on each level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Test smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button to be sure that they are working properly.
Tuesday
Do You Have a Carbon Monoxide Detector?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane, and natural gas. Each year approximately 170 people die from CO produced by non-automotive consumer products. Install a Carbon Monoxide detector in your home for greater protection.
Wednesday
Where is the Medicine?
Your bathroom cabinet could have hidden dangers lurking for your children, especially since the bottles look like fun toys for a toddler. Keep the medicine cabinet locked and remember that even hair products, if ingested, could be toxic to your little one.
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