Legend of the Apple

Johnny Appleseed,
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, 1871
Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

The apple, ah-h-h-h! From the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden to Johnny Appleseed and onward through time, the apple identifies with religion, mythology and folktales, along with its absolute deliciousness. Only a few days ago we celebrated Apple Time while back in June was celebration of Cherries & Apples. Apples have even shown their shiny faces among the American Classics. 

America loves apples: the state fruit of New York, Vermont and Washington is the red apple along with the state muffin of New York being the apple muffin, the state beverage of New Hampshire being apple cider and the state pie of Vermont boasting scrumptious apple pie; Minnesota, the Honeycrisp apple; Illinois, the GoldRush Apple; Rhode Island, the greening apple; West Virginia, the Golden Delicious apple, and the state flower of Michigan and Arkansas is the apple blossom. Where there are blossoms, there will surely be apples! It is really not surprising that the apple appears yet once again, this time related to legend.

September 26 is...

Johnny Appleseed Day

Fact or fiction?

Johnny Appleseed definitely was a person (September 26, 1774 - March 11, 1845)...a generous and well-traveled individual. As Johnny Appleseed traveled west, he planted apple trees along the way, and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew.  

Johnny's real name was John Chapman, an American pioneer nurseryman. He introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as the northern counties of present day West Virginia.

A Little About the Legend:

• John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) was born on September 26, 1774.
• He was a nurseryman who started out planting trees in western New York and Pennsylvania.
• During the life of John Chapman, the "West" was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.
• John Chapman was a deeply religious person He was known to preach during his travels.
• According to legend, Johny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little. He rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received.
• It is believed that he died on March 11, 1845, from what was referred to as the "winter plague". The actual date of his death has been disputed.

Enjoy the apple today and all the tomorrows to come. After all, 

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

Don't forget September is...National Chicken Month (among other things)! How about putting smoked applewood chicken on tonight's menu!

Recipe of the Day:  Spiced Apple Pie Cupcakes

 

 Is your mouth watering yet?

yum, yum, yum . . . yummy!

*****