The Good Life

My guest this week is Amy Traverso author of the most complete cookbook for enjoying and cooking with apples. Winner of an IACP “Best Cookbook” award in 2012!

The Apple Lover’s Cookbook celebrates the beauty of apples in all their delicious variety, taking you from the orchard to the kitchen with recipes both sweet (like Apple-Stuffed Biscuit Buns and Blue Ribbon Deep-Dish Apple Pie) and savory (like Cider-Brined Turkey and Apple Squash Gratin). It offers a full-color guide to fifty-nine apple varieties, with descriptions of their flavor, history, and, most important, how to use them in the kitchen. Amy Traverso also takes you around the country to meet farmers, cider makers, and apple enthusiasts.

The one hundred recipes run the spectrum from cozy crisps and cobblers to adventurous fare like Cider-Braised Brisket or Apple-Gingersnap Ice Cream. In addition, Amy organizes apple varieties into cooking categories so that it’s easy to choose the right fruit for any recipe. You’ll know to use tart Northern Spy in your pies and Fuji in delicate cakes. The Apple Lover’s Cookbook is the ultimate apple companion. 110 four-color illustrations.

“How many apple varieties can you name off the top of your head? Six? Ten? Traverso lays out a guide to 59 apples… If she were to stop there, fine. But she also weaves in stories of apple farmers who’ve garnered a following by what and how they’re growing, and a meeting with a researcher at Cornell University’s famed apple breeding program who might make you think differently about genetically engineered apples. She offers storage tips, crust-making tips, apple sizes and equivalent measurements, a source guide to apple products and cider tasting notes.” (Janet Rausa Fuller – Chicago Sun-Times )  Get a copy NOW!

A life-long apple lover, Amy Traverso is the food editor at Yankee magazine. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Keeping with the Apple Theme…in the second half I’ll be talking to Tom Schierman from Louisburg Cider Mill in Louisburg Kansas.  It’s a busy time of year at Louisburg Cider Mill.  Unlike many Apple Cider brands, Louisburg Cider Mill Apple Cider is not “watered down”. This Cider is 100% Apple Cider (Not from concentrate)!  We pasteurize our Apple Cider and use only apples from the good old USA. We continue today as we began — determined to make our Natural Apple Cider the best anywhere in the country.

MSNBC picked Louisburg Cider Mill as one of the top 10 cider mills in America!  It’s a pretty drive through the Flint Hills to visit Louisburg, but if you can’t make the drive you can purchase their cider locally at Dillions.  www.louisburgcidermill.com

Jeff Meyers

One of my favorite winemaking friends; Jeff Meyers, joins us to wrap up this weeks show with a great wine of the week.   Jeff is the VP and GM of Montevina and Terra d’Oro and is the driving force behind both labels.  While he has given up the reins as head winemaker for overall supervision of both, he is still a leader in Amador County and put zin, syrah and barbera on the map in the Sierra Foothills.
www.terradorowinery.com

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2009 Terra d’Oro Amador County Barbera 

Terra d’Oro Barbera is opulent and delicious, yet welcoming and approachable. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry and spice tease the senses and lead to a juicy palate. Intriguing flavors of black cherry match a smooth, alluring mouthfeel. Deep and harmonious, this wine has perfect acidity for pairing with almost any food. Enjoy the Barbera with tender, grilled lamb and vegetable kebabs.

Pick up a bottle or two at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road!