Apple Tasting Party

Arlene Stacey | August 18th, 2014

How do you like them apples? Here, all you need to throw your own apple tasting party

Pork Tenderloin Apple Sticks

Makes 16 skewers

16 small wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning

¼ cup honey

2 tbsp cider vinegar

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

1 medium pork tenderloin, cut into bite-size chunks (about 16 cubes)

1 Granny Smith apple, cut into 8 wedges and then halved

1 tbsp olive oil

salt and pepper

Whisk together honey, cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and thyme. Thread one pork piece and one apple chunk on each skewer. Brush lightly with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill on medium heat for approximately 12 minutes, basting often with honey mustard mixture, until pork has hint of pink or no pink in the middle.

Apple Pie Martini

Adapted from Ontario Apple Growers recipe collection.

2 oz apple cider

1.5 oz vanilla liqueur such as Galliano

1 oz vodka

1/8 tsp cinnamon (or adjust to taste)

Squeeze of lime

FOR THE RIM: Mix ½ cup sugar with 1 tbsp of cinnamon and pour onto plate larger than martini glass rim. Wet rim with lime wedge or vanilla liqueur (pour onto second plate for dipping). Moisten rim and dip into cinnamon sugar. Garnish with apple slice.

Pour all ingredients into shaker filled two-thirds with ice. Shake well. Strain into rimmed martini glass.

NEXT: What you need to host an apple-tasting party

Want to host an apple-tasting party? What you’ll need

– Five varieties of apples, amount of each depends on number of guests but count on one apple generating eight slices plus you’ll need on to display whole so guests can evaluate its appearance

– Apple slicer-corer (about $9 at kitchen stores).

– Five mid-sized bowls for apple slices

– Large wooden cutting board for presentation of apples and slices, or a rustic piece of board or tabletop.

– One pen plus five scorecards (one for each apple variety – print scorecard here).

– Water and plain baguette slices for palate-cleansing