Last season's apples are on sale right now and will be for a while. They're available in lots of different varieties, each with its own unique flavor (we love the sweet juiciness of Cox's Orange Pippin). And they're fantastically versatile so it's smart to indulge. Consider all the cool things you can do with the common apple that can add a bit of spizzaz to your next meal:

French toast grilled cheese with apples: Rachel Ray came up with this clever idea. It's essentially a take on the Monte Cristo, but with your favorite cheese and thinly sliced apples. As she says, "Yummo!"

Apple muesli: Add a grated apple, a large dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of honey to your favorite muesli, then leave to soak for 5 minutes. Add cold milk for a delicious breakfast or brunch.

Apple cups: Shown is mulled apple cider, which is delightful on a cold winter's night. But we like to served lemon- or limeade in chilled apple cups in the spring and summer. Watermelon juice is delicious in these as well.

Apple cake: Who doesn't have an apple cake recipe hiding in their recipe box? But the secret to a spectacular apple cake is using a spring form pan and topping it all with thinly sliced apples and sprinkling with freshly ground nutmeg. SUCH a pretty dessert!

Apples on an English muffin:
Fry slices of apple in butter until golden, add a sprinkle of brown sugar and heat until caramelized. Place atop an English muffin, sprinkle with a dash of freshly ground Ceylon cinnamon and broil for just approximately 1 minute. Watch carefully so things don't burn. We also drizzle honey over them after they come out of the oven.

Apple and blackberry crumble: Cook 3 peeled and chopped apples with 3-4 C blackberries, 2 tablespoons sugar and a pinch of cinnamon in a saucepan with 2 tablespoons water. Place in a baking dish. Cut ½ C butter into 2 ½ C flour and stir in 1/2 sugar. Spread onto the apple mixture and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Healthier Waldorf Salad: In a bowl put 1 peeled and diced apple, 2 sliced sticks of sliced celery, a handful of toasted walnuts, halved red or green grapes, and some torn lettuce leaves. Add a little plain, non-fat Greek yogurt, toss together and serve in Bibb lettuce leaves. This is beautiful as well as healthy.

Apple candle-holders: Wash, polish, then core as many apples as you want candle-holders. They should sit flat. Insert candles (short or long-doesn't matter-depends on the look you want) and set in a line down the length of the table. VERY Martha-Stewartish!

Apple Place Card Holder: Wash and polish as many apples as you need place card holders. Remove stems. Cut ¼ inch slit across the top of the apple, from one side to the other, to fit your place cards. A touch of color (the color of the apples) is a nice addition to the name added to t