Fried Apples 'n Onions

This dish comes from a book in the Little House Series, "Farmer Boy". It was one of Almanzo Wilder's favorite dishes. I've made it several times over the years (since Evan was into the Little House series at the age of 8) and each time I make it, I wonder why I don't make it more often! I'm not sure the kids agree - they are not really into savory cooked fruit - but I love it. It's very homey and comforting.

Here is the original recipe:

Fried Apples’n'Onions

• 1/2 pound bacon or salt pork, sliced
• 6 yellow onions, sliced in large “C” pieces
• 6 tart apples, sliced, with skins on, in large half moon shaped pieces, or cored and sliced crosswise as circles
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar (optional)

1. Fry bacon or salt pork slices in a skillet until brown and crisp. Set them aside.
2. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet, and add the onion slices. Cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes and then cover with layers of the apple slices. Sprinkle with the brown sugar (if using). Cover the skillet and cook until tender for a few more minutes. Move to the plate with the bacon or pork and serve together.

I adapted it slightly (of course!) and never get out the recipe to make it so it's probably a bit different every time. First of all, the above recipe makes way too much for us. Last night I used one large sweet onion and two medium apples (whatever kind I happened to have). I use 1 T olive oil instead of bacon fat, and sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of bacon bits in while it's cooking. This is more a simplicity issue than a health one. We always cook more bacon than we need and freeze the leftovers so we have homemade bacon bits when we need them. I also don't think it needs an as much bacon as called for, unless you're serving as a breakfast main dish. I put just enough for some nice bacony flavored goodness. I never add the sugar, but the apples I have sitting around are usually the sweeter apples we keep around for snacks. Taste it and see if you think it needs any; it will depend on what kind of apples you use.

This adaptation made enough for 3 generous adult servings or 6 smaller ones.

This dish is wonderful with pork of any kind. I think next time I make it I will smother pork chops with it and bake, covered. It's also wonderful over rice or mashed potatoes. Yum!