Get Outta the Kitchen: Apple-Picking!

On Friday, LeeLee and I ventured out to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to enjoy our annual apple-picking excursion, wherein we play hooky from work for the day and immerse ourselves in the business of collecting a bushel (not a typo) of apples in all shapes, sizes, and varieties.  Each year, we have a blast, and since we started this tradition five years ago, we’ve developed more “must-dos” throughout the day, from revisiting prime picnicking spots to visiting our favorite bookshop in Front Royal, Va.  By the time we’re finished with our mini-vacation, we’ve checked a lot more off our lists than just collecting bags of apples.  We’ve had time to talk, uninterrupted, and spent a few hours just relaxing and rejuvenating.  That, alone, is worth the trip!

But on to the apples.  Each year we visit Hartland Orchard in Markham, Va., for a great day of picking.  Even on the bad years, where apples aren’t quite as plentiful in our region, we have a great time selecting pre-picked fruits from the expansive bins.  But this year is apparently a great apple year – there were so many Red Deliciouses on the trees!  So many Fujis!  So many Granny Smiths!

Well, suffice it to say, we cleaned up.  We began with the Red Delicious trees, filling our two half-bushel bags halfway with the red beauties.  Per tradition, LeeLee snagged an apple-picking pole from the front office and proceeded to grab the highest-perched fruits, gently bringing them down to earth and plunking them into his bag.  I, however, stuck to the low-hanging fruit – I’ve always been efficient, you see – and soon, bags half-filled, we were ready to move on to the Fujis and Granny Smiths, which in tandem filled up the rest of the bushel.

Picking the apples is such fun.  Pulling fruit from its tree is about as locally sourced as it comes!  And in terms of entertainment value, between wrestling with the apple-picker and chasing after wayward apples after a bag gives way on the hillside, the excursion can’t be beat.  (And the recessionista in me has to add: At $24 for the full bushel, we certainly got a great deal!)

So what are we going to do with all these apples?  Many, many things.  I’ll be cooking applesauce in the Crock-Pot each morning for the next week (at least!), canning the results every night.  Apple butter is always a special fall treat (and an excellent Christmas gift!).  I love making apple pie, apple crisps, and stuffed apples, among other sweet treats.  Not to mention, they just taste good in regular old fruit form.  :)

They may not keep quite as long as the 40 pounds of potatoes we picked a few weeks ago, but we’re old pros at apple-preserving by now.  The clock is ticking!  It’s time to start cooking, canning, and freezing.  Updates to come as events progress!

:)