Is It Fruit Or Candy?

It's hard to believe that this is my 200th post. I thought for sure I'd have run out of stuff to write about by post 132. Anyhoo, Fall is here and it brings one of my favorite treats and one of my greatest dietary quandaries.

I love taffy apples or caramel apples, depending on your linguistic preference. When the air turns cool and the leaves start falling, you can usually find me with a combination of apple juice and caramel dripping off my chin. My favorite brand is Affy Tapple. It's a crazy name, and their apples drive me crazy. I think my affinity for Affy Tapples can be traced back to grade school. A couple times during the first semester of school we would be treated to taffy apple day. After lunch, a rack of Affy Tapples were delivered to our classroom and the feast commenced. Over the years I have been lured by imitators, rank amateurs whose packaging looked similar, but whose apples paled by comparison.

For a taffy apple to meet my exacting standards it had to be very crunchy. Nothing ruins the taffy apple experience quicker than biting into a mushy apple. Recently, Affy Tapple has been switching things up a little. Traditionally, taffy apples came plain or with nuts. I was partial to nuts. (Shut up, you know what I mean.) Now I have a new addiction. Affy Tapple has introduced an apple covered in caramel, then rolled in sweetened pie crust pieces. When I take a bite of these bits of heaven, I am transported far away from the cares of the world to a place where angels sing. I just read that back and realized I'm either way to into the apples, leading a very empty life, or some combination of the two. Seriously though, the pie crust Affy Tapples rule. That's the problem though. I try to justify eating them by saying they're an apple, but the sweet caramelly goodness may negate the healthy benefits. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but cover that apple in gooey caramel and pie crust and you need to call a dentist and Jenny Craig.

I was at the grocery store yesterday, and Affy Tapples were on sale. You know I bought some and am hearing their siren's song every time I walk in the kitchen. I'll probably give in and devour a couple. It's OK though. Fruit is good for you right? Right? Come on, don't leave me hanging. Later...Brian