Apple Picking

It’s been a rainy, yucky day here in PA. Nicholas was supposed to have a preschool field trip to an apple orchard, but it was canceled. Don’t tell him, but I was actually thrilled to hear that they were going to have school instead because that meant instead of hanging out in the mud and pouring rain with a huge group of toddlers I got to spend a few quiet hours with just one child. I have a bit of a stomach virus & haven’t been feeling well for a few days- NOT fun when you have two toddlers and your husband is gone for the entire week.

Besides, we’ve already been apple picking this year. If you haven’t been I would strongly encourage you to find a U Pick orchard. It’s a great, inexpensive family-friendly fall activity. You only pay for what you pick. We went to the Paulus Orchard here in central PA, but we’ve since learned there are at least 2 other orchards closer to our house that weren’t listed online when I was trying to research where to go. (and we only had to drive half an hour to get to that one!)

The orchard was beautiful and they also had a maze & go karts (there was an extra charge for those) and a free playground for the kids. There was a little general store and I learned that they offer canning classes, which I desperately need and plan to take next fall once I have a husband at home again in the evenings when the classes are offered. They also had AMAZING apple cider.

We picked half a bushel for $12. I made a huge pot of apple sauce, two apple crisps, apple pancakes, and we ate quite a few apple slices. Eddie bought me a canning supply kit for my birthday, but when he ordered it he didn’t realize it didn’t come with a pot. Unfortunately, by the time I found a water bath caner the rest of the apples had gone bad. Now I’m prepared for next year!

Yep, I’m definitely glad that our apple-picking experience was just the four of us on a beautiful day and not me with a stomach virus chaperoning 20+ preschoolers in the cold & rain.

However, I miss this man!!

Oh, and I found a great recipe for apple sauce on AllRecipes.com:

• 4 apples – peeled, cored and chopped
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher.

I doubled this recipe and got 2 large serving bowls of applesauce, probably close to 3 quarts worth. I would have made more and canned it, but, you know. There’s always next year.