An apple a day

An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but for those who love to labor in the kitchen, an apple a day means finding new ways to infuse fruit into cooking and baking.

Apples are a great fruit to use in a number of recipes. While everybody loves a good ol' American apple pie, there are so many more intriguing recipes to try with apples at the core of them.

If variety is the spice of life, then apples must be the fruit of life. There are different types of apples for every use -- from eating them right off the tree, to cooking and baking.

According to the Washington Apple Commission, the best choices for making a pie are Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Pink Lady and Cameo brands of apples, while Granny Smith and Braeburn are also good selections.

For baking, the Cameo variety is the best choice, but Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Jonagold are also good choices. Red Delicious apples, which are a favorite among consumers, should be eaten in fresh salads and never used for baking.

There are hundreds of varieties of apples available, but many people have only tasted a few of the varieties.

No matter what variety of apple you turn to, you can rest assured that it is a nutritional one. One medium apple, raw with its skin, only has 81 calories, while having 8 percent of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (USRDA) of vitamin C. Half of the vitamin C content in an apple is just underneath the skin, so it's important not to peel them in order to retain those nutrients.

Apples are also a great source of fiber.

While apples are great when eaten raw as a snack, they can also be used in a number of recipes. While most people are familiar with pies, ciders and sauces, apples can also be used in salads, other baked goods and even some pasta dishes.

Apple recipes

Apple Salsa

2 medium red apples

2 tablespoons lime juice

1/2 cup chopped orange segments

1/2 cup finely chopped onions

1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper

1 finely chopped jalapeno

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Core and dice apples into 1/4-inch pieces. Toss immediately with lime juice. Stir in remaining ingredients. Chill 2 hours before serving over fish, chicken or turkey.

Nutritional information per 3-tablespoon serving: 15 calories, 0 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 11 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 4 g carbohydrates.

Apple tortellini salad

3 tablespoons frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

2 teaspoons firmly packed brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon garlic salt

Dash white pepper

1 package (9 oz.) refrigerated cheese filled tortellini

2 cups sliced red apples

2 cups shredded salad greens

1 cup sliced fresh

strawberries

1/2 cup thinly sliced celery

1/4 cup sliced green onions

2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted, optional

Combine juice concentrate, corn syrup, vinegar, sugar, garlic salt and pepper.

Cover and refrigerate. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and cool thoroughly. In large mixing bowl combine tortellini and remaining ingredients.

Toss gently with juice dressing and serve immediately.

Nutritional information per 1 1/3-cup serving: 220 calories, 4 g fat, 23 mg cholesterol, 41 g carbohydrates, 234 mg sodium, 3 g fiber.

Smoked turkey an

apple salad

Dressing

5 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 tablespoon dijon mustard

1 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt, optional

Salad

1 bunch watercress or

romaine, torn into bite- size pieces

1 carrot, julienne

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

8 ounces smoked turkey, julienned

4 unpeeled apples, sliced

1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Whisk together dressing ingredients and set aside. Just before serving, arrange salad greens on a platter or individual plates.

Top with carrot, tomatoes, turkey and apples. Drizzle dressing over salad and sprinkle with walnuts.