Apple of our eye

5Dunk an apple in caramel. Making the coating is as easy as melting down a bag of individually wrapped caramels and two tablespoons of water. Prep the apples by removing the stems, then pierce each apple’s stem end with a wooden craft stick. Dunk each apple in the melted caramel, and place on wax paper to cool. Get a little fancy by rolling the apples in chopped nuts or drizzling them with melted chocolate.

Tuttle Orchards even has a Carmel Apple Festival on Sept. 10. Among other activities, there is a caramel apple-hunt on the farm.

Details: Tuttle Orchards, 5717 N. 300 W., Greenfield; 317-3262278; tuttleorchards.com

6Chill out with a cider slushie. Yep, you read that right. Head to Simply Sweet Shoppe in Carmel for a slushie made with local apple cider. On days when it’s still warm, this treat hits the spot.

Details: 30 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel; 317-818-9866; simplysweetshoppe.com

7Pair apples and cheese. This is one fantastic food pairing, but often overlooked. Replace the grapes on your cheese board with apples, and you’ll be thrilled with how the crispness of the apples counters the richness of the cheese. Blue cheese with Granny

Smith is a classic pairing, but also try brie with Gala, cheddar with

Honeycrisp and gouda with Granny Smith.

8Try apple butter on warm biscuits or muffins. It seems every orchard makes its own version of apple butter, which really isn’t butter at all. It’s a way to preserve apples by cooking them low and slow until they have caramelized and are spreadable. If making it from scratch isn’t an option, pick up a few jars from an orchard to have on hand when you are entertaining or are in need of a lastminute gift.

9Discover a variety that’s new to you. Go to orchards and farmers’ markets to find apples that are a bit more adventuresome. The

Apple Works Orchard, for example, offers Goldrush, a tart variety that can be used for baking, and Orin, a Japanese apple that has a hint of pineapple flavor. Both can be hard to find elsewhere.

Details: 8157 S. 250 W., Trafalgar; 317-878-9317; apple-works.com

10Find a baking recipe and make it your signature. Edible Indy’s publisher Cathy Bayse is happy to share her recipe for apple cake, which was passed down from her mom. It is quick and easy to prepare, and serves as a coffee cake or dessert cake—it’s wonderful topped with caramel sauce or ice cream.

APPLE CAKE

Recipe courtesy of Cathy Bayse

2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 cup vegetable oil 3 cups of apples, peeled, diced large and sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent browning (4 to 5 Granny Smiths work best) 2 cups sugar 2½ cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon cardamom

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix eggs and oil together; add the apples and stir to combine.

2. In another bowl, sift all the dry ingredients together.

3. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the apple mixture and stir until just blended.

4. Place mixture in a 9- by 13-inch pan and bake for 1 hour in a 350° oven.