Apples

As settlers moved west, they brought apple trees and seeds to the Missouri Territory.  Dried apples, cider and applejack were important staples.  By 1880, the settlers had established an apple industry which remains the dominant fruit industry in Missouri.  In those early days, apple varieties such as 'Ben Davis', 'Gano', 'Jonathan' and 'Missouri Pippin' were packed in barrels and shipped by steamboat to markets all over the country and abroad.  Today, 'Red Delicious', 'Golden Delicious' and 'Jonathan' are popular varieties.

Apple Brown Betty

In a quart pudding dish, arrange alternate layers of sliced apples and bread crumbs.  Season each layer with bits of butter, a little sugar, and a pinch each of ground cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.  When the dish is full, pour over it a quarter of a pint each of molasses and water mixed.  Cover the top with crumbs, place the dish in a pan containing hot water, and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for three-quarters of an hour or until the apples are soft.  Serve with cream.