Every Friday in Eater's Digest, we call attention to current food stories that align with our sensibilities for natural, local, and organic foods and conscientious cooking. Naturally, we pair each story with a relevant recipe.

This week: Microwave cooking, mooncake season, ugly apples, and London's Borough Market.

Butchers working at the Ginger Pig, a Borough Market stalwart (photo by Gabi Porter via Food Republic)

Grist: Microwave cooking has long been a favorite target of food-loving luddites, but it turns out microwaving vegetables might not cause significant nutrient loss. It turns out the dry heat of a microwave may actually lead to greater nutrient retention than some stovetop cooking methods.

Microwave Potato Chips [Food Gal]

Smithsonian Magazine: The Chinese mid-autumn festival is in full swing, and the mooncake, a bean paste-filled, hockey puck-shaped treat, is the symbol of the season.

Mooncake Cupcakes [Cupcake Bakeshop]

The Washington Post: Organic, no-spray apples may not win any beauty competitions, but who cares? If certain apples aren't good looking enough to display in your fruit basket, chop them up and bake away.

Hearty Apple Loaf [Sprouted Kitchen]

Food Republic: The London Borough Market is bursting with ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook local food. After salivating over this photo tour, we're feeling ready to tackle the season's bounty.

Creamy Parsnip Soup with Red Leg Partridge Sausage Rolls [The British Larder]

Did we miss anything? Share your favorite food news from the past week in the comments section below.

Have a tip? Send us links to your favorite new articles on food and cooking at editors@wholefoodsmarketcooking.com. If we feature your suggestion, we'll give you a shout out!