My aunt (who is obsessed with apples) lives in rural Ohio where most of my family is from. Whenever I’m out there, especially in the fall, we take the back country roads and stop at this little apple farm that has a huge outside refrigerator with jugs of fresh cider. Honor system, leave a couple bucks and go. Best cider ever.
Twelfth night is my birthday! What a fun tradition!
I feel like I’m only just now, 27 years old and two kids in, learning how much I’ve under appreciated apples. My dad, every day for as long as I can remember, has had a small apple with his lunch... and let’s just say that they weren’t always the cream of the crop. Sometimes dry or crumbly or just... bland out of season. But as James and I begin to explore all the ways we can use the seasonal fruit we compulsively buy in bulk (“bulk” only in the context of a family of two adults and a sometimes-hungry toddler) when it’s on sale, we’re starting to see that, while other fruits might have one or two options, apples have a thousand. Wassail indeed :)
During the school shut-downs, I took the kids on field trips to as many ghost towns as we could find within a few hours' drive. Since these towns had been abandoned in lush Washington, their plots were thick forest and most of the buildings completely gone...some didn't even have trails anymore. But we always knew we were getting close to finding an artifact - a concrete foundation, coke oven, etc - when we saw a gnarled old apple tree in the midst of the forest growth.
I loved that. Townsfolk, settling a new place, marked 'home' with an apple tree - and some 80-100 years after the last inhabitant left the town, those apple trees still stand.
Thank you for your beautiful reflection on the humble apple! They really do have a special relationship with humanity.
"long-cooked with onions and sauerkraut and caraway seed into the heartiest autumn dish."
At the Petty house we add bratwurst and potatoes to this dish and call it "old world supper." Cooked for about 4-6 hours in the crock-pot, It's my favorite dish this time of year.
Thanks for making me pause and consider this wonderful fruit.
This week I have spent several days slicing and drying apples in my dehydrator. That's one tree down. I've just picked the next tree, one more bucket of apples to get through!
Many years ago I was introduced to compote - apples stewed with their skins on instead of peeled. It's a great use for overripe apples and I have it every morning with my porridge (oatmeal I think North America calls it). Delicious and easy to do.
Oh Apple, how I miss thee! When once I crossed that threshold from boy to man, some twisted fate awaited me. Alas, I can enjoy your raw and natural beauty no more. Denatured and turned from fruit to pie, is the only way I may consume you.
I love apples! Also, in a pie because apple pie is my favorite ❤️
My aunt (who is obsessed with apples) lives in rural Ohio where most of my family is from. Whenever I’m out there, especially in the fall, we take the back country roads and stop at this little apple farm that has a huge outside refrigerator with jugs of fresh cider. Honor system, leave a couple bucks and go. Best cider ever.
Twelfth night is my birthday! What a fun tradition!
I feel like I’m only just now, 27 years old and two kids in, learning how much I’ve under appreciated apples. My dad, every day for as long as I can remember, has had a small apple with his lunch... and let’s just say that they weren’t always the cream of the crop. Sometimes dry or crumbly or just... bland out of season. But as James and I begin to explore all the ways we can use the seasonal fruit we compulsively buy in bulk (“bulk” only in the context of a family of two adults and a sometimes-hungry toddler) when it’s on sale, we’re starting to see that, while other fruits might have one or two options, apples have a thousand. Wassail indeed :)
During the school shut-downs, I took the kids on field trips to as many ghost towns as we could find within a few hours' drive. Since these towns had been abandoned in lush Washington, their plots were thick forest and most of the buildings completely gone...some didn't even have trails anymore. But we always knew we were getting close to finding an artifact - a concrete foundation, coke oven, etc - when we saw a gnarled old apple tree in the midst of the forest growth.
I loved that. Townsfolk, settling a new place, marked 'home' with an apple tree - and some 80-100 years after the last inhabitant left the town, those apple trees still stand.
Thank you for your beautiful reflection on the humble apple! They really do have a special relationship with humanity.
"long-cooked with onions and sauerkraut and caraway seed into the heartiest autumn dish."
At the Petty house we add bratwurst and potatoes to this dish and call it "old world supper." Cooked for about 4-6 hours in the crock-pot, It's my favorite dish this time of year.
Thanks for making me pause and consider this wonderful fruit.
This made me want to eat an apple, but the apple bowl is bare. Great reflection.
This week I have spent several days slicing and drying apples in my dehydrator. That's one tree down. I've just picked the next tree, one more bucket of apples to get through!
Many years ago I was introduced to compote - apples stewed with their skins on instead of peeled. It's a great use for overripe apples and I have it every morning with my porridge (oatmeal I think North America calls it). Delicious and easy to do.
Oh Apple, how I miss thee! When once I crossed that threshold from boy to man, some twisted fate awaited me. Alas, I can enjoy your raw and natural beauty no more. Denatured and turned from fruit to pie, is the only way I may consume you.