ADVENTURES IN ECO-PARENTING

LEAH KLEIN MAKES GOING GREEN CHILD’S PLAY

THE EAT-LOCAL-WHILE-YOU-CAN EDITION

Eat Local While You Can November is all about the great fall harvest and storing all
that is local and good for winter, especially in the Northeast.
Sweet, shiny apples are a highlight of the season, present in
everything from Thanksgiving’s horn of plenty to cider donuts
to apple picking in the crisp, cool air at the orchard.

So many of the fruits and vegetables being harvested right now have sweet, candy-like qualities but are packed full of great vitamins for you and your family. Apples just might top the list of the season’s sweetest treats. And you know what they say: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

APPLE SNACKS
Toothy Apple Smiles Wash your freshly picked apple and cut it into wedges, removing the core as you go. Spread some peanut butter along the inner edge of the apple slice. Then stick mini marshmallows on top of the peanut butter for a delicious and mostly nutritious little snack that’s quick and fun.

Other options:
Soft and chewy dried apple rings
Fresh apple shapes
Applesauce
Crunchy apple chips

AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE
The classic American Thanksgiving holiday is a great time to bring together family (or those who you call family) to celebrate the local food of the season, friendship and the bonds that make you family. Thanksgiving is an occasion to touch base and reconnect with siblings, friends or neighbors who have been too busy with work, chores and the many devices that clutter their lives. The time you have together allows you to slow down, share recipes, talk a little politics and perhaps chat about some of the ways your household is becoming greener. As daylight fades and the temperature drops, it’s the perfect time to exchange tips for protecting the environment and your budget. After Uncle Jeremy has been determined to be the greenest in the family with his new thermostat, solar shower, pantry full of local seasonal preserves and apartment-sized vermicompost, then gather around the table and eat pie.

YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE
Apple picking with your kids is another way to sit back and enjoy the season and the great outdoors. Life seems to slow down on the orchard. Kids pick fruit at the source and appreciate where their food is coming from. When you get back into the kitchen, you can make the classics: apple pies, tarts or sauce. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can make dried apple rings, apple butter, chutneys and other preserves. Canning is a great way to preserve the harvest, and it is not quite as complicated as it may sound. Check out your local community center, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or adult education center for canning workshops.

Visit www.homegrown.org or www.localharvest.org for more information.

So put on your flannel, turn down the thermostat and head outdoors while it is still light. Gather together on the porch under the harvest moon and enjoy some sweet apple pie and the warmth of being together.

Leah Klein is mom to Isabelle and Henry. Henry likes his apples whole with the peel off. Isabelle is a fan of the sliced apple. Leah is fond of the tart, crisp apple. As a family, they enjoy their apple share as part of their CSA. Their favorites are Golden Delicious apples (slightly green/unripe) for baking, Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisps. Leah is the Boston Food Mom at Examiner.com (www.examiner.com/x-1240-Boston-Food-Mom-Examiner).