Outdoor Dining

ABOVE PHOTO:  Spiced Pork and Apple Burger with Maple Dijon

From orchard to table, apples bring flavor for the perfect picnic

Family Features

There’s nothing like the perfect picnic or barbecue to slow down and reconnect with friends and family. This season, gather together guests and surprise them with a rustic backyard picnic, starring delicious new recipes that bring out the flavor of apples – a versatile and healthy year-round fruit.

Filled with healthy antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals, apples add a flavorful twist to classic picnic fare. For a refreshing treat that both kids and adults will love, try the Strawberry Banana Smoothie Popsicle, made with Tree Top Apple Juice. Or grill some Spiced Pork and Apple Burgers with Maple Dijon, made with Tree Top Apple Sauce for a lean and juicy burger.

For more recipes and inspiration, visit www.treetop.com.

Spiced Pork and Apple Burger with Maple Dijon

Servings: 6

3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard

2 pounds ground pork

1/2 cup Tree Top Natural Apple Sauce

1 1/2  teaspoons salt

1 1/2  teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 hamburger buns

Baby Spinach leaves

Stir maple syrup and mustard together in a small bowl. Set aside. Spray a large non-stick grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and place over medium to medium high heat.

Mix pork, apple sauce, salt, chili powder, dry mustard, pepper and cinnamon together in a large mixing bowl. Form mixture into 6 patties. Place patties in pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, turn and cook additional 4 to 5 minutes or until done.

To serve, spread bun bottoms with maple mustard mixture. Top each with a patty, spinach leaf and bun top. If desired, toast buns and top with cheddar cheese, grilled onions, pickles, tomatoes or other favorite toppings. Serve with crispy sweet potato fries and steamed beans for an easy but special meal.

Source: Tree Top

Apple Tortellini Salad

Servings: 6 to 8

Dressing:

3 tablespoons Tree Top Frozen Concentrate

Apple Juice, thawed

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons garlic salt

Ground pepper to taste

Salad:

9 ounces cheese-filled tortellini

2 cups sliced apples (approximately 2 medium apples)

2 cups shredded salad greens

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

1/2 cup thinly sliced celery

1/2 cup sliced scallions

2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)

To prepare dressing, combine apple juice concentrate, corn syrup, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic salt and pepper. Cover dressing and refrigerate.

To prepare salad, cook tortellini, drain and cool by rinsing pasta under cold water. Shake gently to drain thoroughly. In a large bowl, combine tortellini, apples, salad greens, strawberries, celery and scallions. Toss salad gently with chilled dressing. Serve chilled. If desired, sprinkle with pine nuts.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Ice Pops

1 cup Tree Top Apple Juice

1 pint strawberries, hulled, sliced and frozen

1 banana, sliced and frozen

1 apple, peeled, cored, sliced and frozen

6 ounces vanilla yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into ice pop forms or paper cups. Place ice pop sticks in center and freeze, inverted, for 3 hours or until solid. Keep frozen until ready to serve.

Baked Apple Pie Layer Bars

Servings: 16

2 1/2  cups sifted flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup shortening

1 egg

Milk

2/3 cup crushed corn flakes

1/2 cup Tree Top or Seneca Apple Sauce

5 cups sliced, peeled apples

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Sift together flour, sugar and salt. Cut shortening in with pastry blender or two knives. Put egg yolk into measuring cup and add milk to make 2/3 cup. Add to shortening mixture. Mix just enough until dough shapes into a ball. Roll out half the dough into 15 x 11-inch rectangle. Transfer to baking sheet. Cover with corn flakes. Mix apple sauce together with apple slices, and add mixture on top of corn flakes. Mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apple mixture. Roll out other half of dough for top crust. Place over apples. Pinch edges together. Beat egg white until stiff and spread on top crust. Bake in hot 400∞F oven for 40 minutes. Cut into 16 squares.

Combine confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice to make glaze. While hot, drizzle glaze over top.