The NW Greening is a often referred to as an early Granny Smith but we don't think the flavor is quite deserving of that title. We have customers that stock up on these every year for pie baking, applesauce, and drying. It's what I like to call a "memory" apple. You remember your grandma or mother baking with these apples and the nostalgia is all you need.
Approximate Ripening Date: September 18th
Flavor: Tart, dry. Rowan Jacobsen in Apples of Uncommon Character (2014) writes "Worth a taste if only to remind yourself that preindustrial homesteaders endured crappy apples, too."
Baking: Holds its shape. Used frequently for dried apples.
History: Cross of Golden Russet x Alexander discovered in Waupaca County, Wisconsin in 1872. This is an heirloom variety.
Featured Recipe:
Apple Streusel Cake
by Becky Shutz
For the Streusel:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped apples
1 cup sliced nuts (optional)
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
3 T butter, melted
For the Cake:
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1
3 cup orange juice
For the Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 T orange juice
Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Grease 9 or 10 inch tube pan. Combine all ingredients for the streusel in a medium bowl. Mix until moist. For the cake, combine first 3 cake ingredients and mix well. In large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, beating well. Add vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and orange juice, mixing on low speed. Spoon 1/2 batter into tube pan. Sprinkle with half of streusel. Spoon remaining butter over the streusel, spreading to make an even layer. Swirl batter with a knife to create a marble pattern. Bake for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining streusel and bake an additional 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Turn cake out onto a serving plate. Mix ingredients for glaze and drizzle over the cake.
