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Inside The New York Botanical Garden

This Week at the Greenmarket: The Big Crunch

Posted in Around the Garden on October 22 2013, by Ann Rafalko

applesIt’s time for the big crunch! No, not in time (the holidays are still only a blip on the horizon). Nope, it’s time to join with your fellow New Yorkers in the Big Apple Crunch!

This Wednesday, the NYBG Greenmarket is celebrating Food Day one day early. Food Day is a celebration, held annually on October 24, of healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Since we can’t just move the Greenmarket to Thursday, we’ll be celebrating the Big Apple Crunch in spirit with our own apple crunching fun. Crunch an assortment of apples and choose your favorite local variety (it ain’t called the Big Apple for nothin’), learn apple facts, and indulge in apple fun.

Almost all of our farmers bring apples or apple-based products to the Greenmarket, including heirloom varieties from Migliorelli Farm; amazing ciders, juices, and fruit from Red Jacket Orchards; and apple pies from Meredith’s Bread. And while our friends at Gajeski Produce tend to stick to seasonal produce of the non-apple variety, I’m sure they’ll get into the apple crunching spirit!

In addition, representatives from the NYC Compost Project in the Bronx will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide practical tips, advice, and encouragement for your home composting endeavors.

The Greenmarket is always free to visit from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and short term parking is available for those who drive. The market accepts food stamps, EBT, WIC/FMNP, and Senior coupons, in addition to cash and credit or debit cards. Learn how to use EBT, WIC and FMNP at the Greenmarket.

To celebrate the Big Apple Crunch, why not bake up a big Apple Crisp? This recipe is from Brett August, a chef and finalist on The Next Food Network Star.

apples2

Apple Crisp – Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 5-6 locally grown apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons white granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter

Preparation

Combine apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and white granulated sugar in a bowl and mix together.

Put the apple mixture in a 9 x 12 inch baking dish.

In another small bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, and butter using the tip of a fork or your fingers. Sprinkle this over the apples evenly.

Bake the apple crisp at 400°F for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.