Super Apple Sandwiches

Brookdale Fruit Farms, Hollis, New Hampshire. (Russell Steven Powell photo)
Brookdale Fruit Farms, Hollis, New Hampshire. (Russell Steven Powell)

APPLES SHOW their amazing versatility in this trio of scrumptious, satisfying sandwiches. Tuna and sweet relish? Mustard and spinach? Greek yogurt and peanut butter? These are just some of the unusual ingredients in these recipes, and they all go together surprisingly well with crisp New England apples between two slices of bread.

Apple Brie Sandwich

This recipe comes from the website shecooksgardens.com. It looked good from the ingredients, and we were not disappointed. We changed very little as a result, substituting a local artisan cheese for brie and using bread instead of rolls. It is quick and easy to make, and has a pleasant blend of tangy flavors and textures.

Apple Brie Sandwich (Russell Steven Powell)
Apple Brie Sandwich (Russell Steven Powell)

Sesame seed sourdough or other bread

1 Paula Red or other sweet-tart New England apple, thinly sliced

Brie or other soft, spreadable cheese (I used a creamy one called Cheesecake by Grace Hill Farm in Cummington, Massachusetts)

Spinach leaves

Stone-ground mustard

Spread cheese on bread, then layer apples and spinach. Top with mustard. Yum.

Apple Tuna Sandwich

This recipe for Apple Tuna Sandwiches sounded very unusual (sweet relish? Chopped nuts??), and with a few modifications, it was delicious. The original appeared on the website food.com.

Apple Tuna Sandwich (Russell Steven Powell)
Apple Tuna Sandwich (Russell Steven Powell)

Sesame seed sourdough or other bread (I used the same loaf I had on hand)

1 6 oz. can tuna in water, drained

½ c McIntosh or other New England apple, chopped into small pieces

¼ c finely chopped pecans (or walnuts)

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

2 T onion, finely chopped

⅓ c mayonnaise

1 T sweet relish

Salt and pepper to taste

Spinach leaves

Mix the first 8 ingredients together, then spread on bread. Top with spinach leaves. Outstanding!

Apple Peanut Butter Heaven

I have always enjoyed the rich, complex flavors and textures that come from spreading a dollop of peanut butter on a slice of apple, and that was the basis for this creation. The juiciness and crispness of the apple contrast nicely with the thick, sticky peanut butter, and the sweet apple and savory peanut butter complement each other. With a few additions, this makes a great sandwich, with outstanding flavor and textures, bursting with energy, making it an excellent choice for breakfast or snack.

Apple Peanut Butter Heaven (Russell Steven Powell)
Apple Peanut Butter Heaven (Russell Steven Powell)

Sesame seed sourdough or other bread

Crunchy peanut butter

1 Zestar! or other New England apple, cut into slices

Vanilla Greek yogurt

Raisins

Cinnamon

Spread peanut butter on bread. Layer with apple slices, and dust with cinnamon.

Spread a generous layer of yogurt over apples. Sprinkle on raisins, and then add top slice of bread. Voila! Simple, nutritious, and delicious.

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COME AND VISIT the New England Apple Association booth at the Eastern States Exposition (“The Big E”) in West Springfield, Massachusetts, now through Sunday, October 1. We have plenty of fresh apples from our orchards, plus apple pies, crisp, cider, cider donuts, and smoothies. We are there every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to answer your questions about apples and this year’s crop.

Can’t make it? Then check out our website, newenglandapples.lndo.site, for information about New England orchards and apple varieties, using our Orchard Finder and Apple Finder. Now is the time to get out to your favorite farm stand or orchard, or to discover a new one.