NEW ENGLAND APPLE-OF-THE-WEEK:

THE BRIGHT RED ROME BEAUTY

News from

NEW ENGLAND APPLES

P. O. B 41, Hatfield, MA 01038 www.apples-ne.com 413-247-9966

HATFIELD, MA-Nearly two centuries ago on the banks of the Ohio River, a chance seedling produced the Rome Beauty, this week's New England Apple of the Week. A tree planted in Rome, Ohio, in the 1820s, sent up a shoot from below the graft-the part of the tree that is not supposed to bear fruit. Orchardists generally lop these unwanted shoots off, but this branch survived to bear beautiful red fruit. The result was a great-tasting apple that flourishes to this day. Rome Beauty, or simply Rome, apples are now ready in New England's orchards, along with a number of other varieties such as Cortland, McIntosh, Empire, Honeycrisp, and Golden and Eastern Red Delicious.

A medium-large, round apple with a slightly tart taste, the Rome Beauty is famed for its deep red color and excellent storage qualities. The Rome's flesh is crisp, firm and a greenish-white, and it has a thick skin. It is a good apple eaten fresh but is particularly valued for baking and in cider. Greg Patent and Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, in fact, call Romes "perfect" for baked apples in their 1999 book A is for Apples.

Romes are particularly flavorful in this recipe for New England Apple Cake. Scatter a few raisins, dried apricots or cranberries on top for a different taste.

New England Apple Cake

Grease 9" pie plate and preheat oven to 325 degrees. In large bowl, mix flour, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Cut in butter with knife or pastry blender until crumbly. Remove half of the mixture to another bowl. Place vinegar in measuring cup and add enough milk to make 1/2 cup liquid. Add to crumb mixture in first bowl with egg and baking soda and stir until smooth. Pour batter into pie plate. Slice apples and scatter over batter and cover with remaining crumbs. Bake for about an hour, until cake is firm and golden brown.

For links to pick-your-own orchards throughout the region, visit the New England Apples website at www.apples-ne.com, or call 413-247-9966.