AUSTIN, Texas (October 9, 2003) Cool nights, warm colors like amber, red and orange, crisp apples, and pumpkins are familiar sights this time of year. Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's largest natural and organic foods supermarket, looks forward to the colorful local produce and tantalizing smells that come from the kitchen this time of year. We've prepared two delicious recipes to bring some of the best aromas and flavors of the season into the kitchen — the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich and warm Spiced Applesauce Cake with Candied Pecans. The smell of apples and cinnamon is one of the sure signs of fall. Even if you live in a place that doesn't see a change of leaves, baking this cake will give you a sense of the changing seasons and make your kitchen smell heavenly.

In addition to the pleasing sights and scents of the season, it's interesting to note that the red, orange and yellow pigments that give color to many fruits and vegetables are carotenoids, of which beta-carotene is probably the best known. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, a potent immune-system supporter and a powerful antioxidant. So fill your plate with the nutritious autumn colors of carrots, hard squash and apples!  

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

 

  • 2 slices multigrain or country-style bread
  • 2 oz Grafton Reserve Cheddar or Parrano cheese, grated
  • 1 tsp whole grain mustard
  • 1/2 tart red apple, very thinly sliced (Macintosh or Gala)
  • 1 TB butter, softened

To prepare, spread one slice of bread with mustard and arrange apple slices on top. Add cheese and top with the other slice of bread. Spread butter outside both slices. Place sandwich on a skillet over medium-high heat and brown each side until golden and cheese in center has melted and is bubbly. This sandwich is great paired with Whole Foods Market's 365 Every Day Value™ Country-style Tomato Soup.

Spiced Applesauce Cake with Candied Pecans

 

Serves 10–12

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups 365 Organic Everyday Value™ Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 TB ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp real vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pecan pieces, lightly toasted
  • 11/2 cups chopped apple (peeled)

    Candied Pecans and Glaze

     

  • 1/2 cup pecan halves
  • 2 tsp melted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup 365 Organic Everyday Value™ Apple Juice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

To prepare pecans, toast pecan halves in the oven for 5 minutes and immediately toss with butter, then with sugar. Let cool on a plate.

To prepare the glaze, in a small saucepan over medium high heat, simmer apple juice and brown sugar until it thickens and reduces by at least half.

To prepare the cake, preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan with a little butter. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar, tap to cover sides and bottom. Set aside. Beat remaining butter and sugar in a bowl on medium speed for about 5 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping sides as needed. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. In another bowl, sift together flour, spices, salt and baking powder. At a slow speed, alternate adding flour mixture and applesauce to butter mixture until well combined. Stir in nuts and chopped apple by hand. Pour batter into sugared pan. Bake in center of oven for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes or until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Transfer to a rack to cool.

To assemble, brush glaze on top of cooled cake and arrange candied pecans on top.

 


 

 

About 365 Organic Everyday Value™ and featured products:

 
Our 365 Organic Every Day Value™ brand provides all the benefits of organic food at great value prices. With the demand for organic foods growing rapidly, Whole Foods Market is taking the lead in providing customers with more organic choices at affordable prices.

 

365 Organic Everyday Value™ Apple Juice (64 oz.) We blend a variety of Golden Delicious, Gala, Braeburn and Red Delicious apples for the perfect balance. Harvested, pressed and bottled within hours to preserve the fresh-picked flavor.

365 Organic Everyday Value™ Apple Sauce (24 oz.) A small, family-owned company in Vermont cooks a blend of organically grown unpeeled apples in small batches-this shortens cooking time, which helps retain flavor-to produce applesauce that tastes home made. Available unsweetened or with cinnamon.

Uniekaas Parrano

Made in Italy from cow's milk and similar in flavor to Dutch Gouda, its nutty taste and texture are retained in hot dishes. It melts well on soups, pastas or grilled cheese sandwiches.

Grafton Classic Reserve Cheddar

Aged 24 months to release moisture while concentrating and developing an intense, complex flavor. The signature product of this Vermont cheesemaker, it has a unique creaminess from Jersey cow raw milk.