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CommentsHow 'Bout Them Apples?
Fall’s fruit is one hard-core ingredient. Try these three delicious dishes
Some local restaurants are using apples in creative ways that bring out their sweetness or complement them with surprising flavors. The apple is the main event in some of these dishes. No matter which you prefer, these are three ways to bring this crisp fruit into your diet this fall.
The Gaska
Where to get it: Metropolitan Grill, 2931 E. Battlefield, Springfield, 417-889-4951
What it’ll cost you: $10.99 at dinner
Why it’s great: The Gaska has everything delicious, all in one warm appetizer. The apples aren’t the main component, but they add an essential element to the dish that would leave us feeling a little less satisfied if it weren’t there. The appetizer is brie, artichoke hearts and chicken cooked to melty perfection inside a puff pastry. It’s topped with slices of apple and a sauce that has sweet slices of roasted garlic, and it’s all served with Parmesan crostini for dipping. The most appealing thing about this dish: textural variety. There are the crisp and cool raw apples, the warm and gooey cheese, the flaky puff pastry, the tender chicken and artichoke hearts, the crunchy crackers, need we continue?
Apple Pizza
Where to get it: Wild Horse Cottage and Tea Room, 5215 N. 17th St., Ozark, 417-582-0582
What it’ll cost you: $8.50
Why it’s great: This single-serving pizza has unexpected flavors mixed with the familiar taste of apples. The hand-tossed white crust is covered in an apple butter sauce that has Italian seasonings. Then it’s topped with ham, yellow onion, lots of mozzarella cheese and golden delicious apples. Ashley Leppert, co-owner of the tea room along with Terry Adamson, says this pizza is heavy on apples; it doesn’t skimp on that namesake topping. The pizza is a seasonal dish that’s offered every Friday during the summer and fall, but Leppert says it will be available through the end of November at least, possibly into December.
Apple Bear Claw
Where to get it: LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee, 3654 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield, 417-886-0040
What it’ll cost you: $1.49
Why it’s great: The apple bear claw is a paw-shaped pastry that’s baked with sliced apples and cinnamon. Owner Bill Risberg says this is one big dessert. He says that to make the bear claw, they roll out a square of dough and pile a filling made from apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in the middle. Then they fold the dough over and cut grooves that look like the fingers of a claw after the pastry cooks. Then a sweet glaze finishes the treat.
Bread Pudding
Where to get it: Big Easy Grill, 3027 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-832-0040
What it’ll cost you: $3.50
Why it’s great: Big Easy Grill uses apples in its bread pudding instead of raisins, and we’ve heard rave reviews from a few different diners about this Cajun eatery’s take on the classic dessert. One bread pudding fan even said it’s the best version of the dish she’s ever had, and she blames the apples for making it so darn moist and delicious. And of course this is a bonus for those raisin-haters out there. Now you can enter the wonderful world of bread pudding without fear.
Caramel-Dipped Apples
Where to get it: Silver Dollar City, 399 Indian Point Rd., Branson, 1-800-475-9370
What it’ll cost you: $2.75–$3 at the Fishcamp Apple Shack
Why it’s great: Silver Dollar City has a few different apple eats, including things like apple fries (deep fried apple slices) and apple dumplings. But we prefer the classic: fresh slices of apple with soft caramel to dip them in. Hey, no one said that everything on this list was from a sit-down restaurant. Half the joy of these caramel apples is the experience. This is walk-while-you-eat food, and that’s just fine. It’s October, and if you combine roller coasters, traipsing around in the Ozarks woods, the cooler weather with a nip in the air and crisp apples dipped in sweet gooey caramel… well… that’s a recipe for autumnal wonderfulness.
