Autumn is right around the corner (Sept 22) and we have quite the seasonal line-up at The Citrus Tree Market! Stop by and check out our sweet corn, butternut squash, concord grapes, crisp apples, apple cider, pumpkins, and garden mums. I can practically hear the crackling of a bonfire, can’t you?
Sweet Corn
Did you know that one ear of sweet corn is only about 100 calories? It also contains 3 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, vitamin B, iron, potassium, and antioxidants. Corn offers insoluble fiber to help your gut bacteria, which in turn aids digestion. Corn is also a great source of iron, which can aid in the fight against anemia.
Butternut Squash
Here’s another fruit masquerading as a vegetable! Butternut squash boast 82 calories, 2 grams of protein, vitamins A, C, E, magnesium, potassium, thiamine, calcium, and iron. Wow! Did you know that brightly colored produce – such as yellow and orange – are associated with lower risks of heart disease, cancer, and mental decline? Butternut squash also contains great amounts of fiber, making it perfect for aiding long-term weight loss.
Concord Grapes
Step aside yellow and orange, purple is in the house! Purple-hued produce helps slim your waistline, lower blood pressure, and promote cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation. Just a handful of concord grapes (about 19) contains 30 calories. They help maintain clean and flexible arteries, neutralize free radicals, maintain gray matter, and boost immunity.
Apples
Move over, pumpkin spice, the OG autumn flavor is here to stay. With a record of 95 calories, 4 grams of fiber, Vitamins C and K, and potassium, apples are a great source of fiber, water, and nutrients – but leave the skin on! The nutrients in apples have been associated with lower risks for heart disease, blood pressure, stroke, cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. They also boast antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and promote bone strength. Last but not least, they also aid that good gut bacteria that helps digestion.
Chrysanthemums
Is there anything more iconic for fall than beautiful mums? First cultivated in Asia as a flowering herb, mums are now widely popular across the United States and are even the official flower of Chicago, IL and Salinas, CA. While you can keep your mums potted, if you want them to last through the winter and come back (yes, depending on the type, mums can be annuals AND perennials!), you need to plant them quickly so they have time to establish good roots for the colder weather. Mums like light so long as they have water and well-drained soil.
You can prepare your mums for winter by mulching up to 4 inches around the plants. Pinch off dead blooms but leave the branches alone. If you wait to prune old stems, they have a better chance of surviving. If they survive, new growth will develop in early spring. Pull away the mulch and clip away the dead growth. If there’s nothing happening at the base of the plant, it’s likely it didn’t quite make it.
Enough Talk, Let’s Eat!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 6 to 7 cups thinly sliced apples
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Pastry for double-crust pie
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 large egg white
- Additional sugar
Directions:
- In a small bowl, combine the sugars, flour, and spices. Set aside. In a large bowl, toss the apples with lemon juice. Add sugar mixture; toss to coat.
- Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust (either handmade or store-bought, we won’t judge) and trim even with edge. Fill with apple mixture; dot with butter. Roll remaining crust to fit top of pie; please over filling. Trim, seal, and flute edges. Cut slits in crust.
- Beat egg white until foamy and brush over crust. Sprinkle with sugar. Cover edges loosely with foil.
- Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake until crust in golden brown and filling is bubbly, about 20-25 minutes longer. Cool on wire rack.
Enjoy!