Apples

Our orchard is home to a colorful variety of apples fruits that ripen throughout the late fall and summer seasons. Some are crisp and tart, others are mellow or sweet.

All are equally loved by humans, white-tailed deer, raccoons, dogs, chickens and other hungry neighbors.

As autumn deepens into winter, our ovens are used to warm our houses, soothe our senses with the homey aroma of pastry and cinnamon, and fill our tummies with sweet goodness! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy our apples and pears.

• Fall Fruit Mash: Chop up some ripe apples and pears and toss them in a sauce pan with a little water. Cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes. When the fruit is soft enough to mash with a fork, sprinkle the sauce with a little sugar and cinnamon and give it a good stir. You can serve the mash warm or cold with a little cream or ice cream.
• Apple / Pear Sauce: Homemade apple sauce or pear sauce (or a combination of fruit!) is easy to make and customize for your own taste. Simply chop apples and / or pears into a sauce pan (you can peel the fruit if you want to make the final sauce smoother), add a little water and a tablespoon or so of lemon juice and cook over medium to low heat. Stir the fruit mixture often to keep it from scorching the bottom of the pan. Little by little, stir in some sugar, brown sugar, or honey until the fruit is just sweet enough. You can also add cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, ginger, or other fall spices as you wish. When the fruit can be mashed with a fork, let the mixture cool. Then use an immersion blender to blend it in to a smooth sauce. You can keep the sauce in the refrigerator for a few days, or freeze it to enjoy all winter long..
• Baked Apples / Pears: Leaving the skin on your apple or pear, carefully cut out the center of the fruit to remove the seeds and core. Place the apples / pears in a shallow baking dish (or a special apple baker) that you have prepared with a little oil or butter. Place a teaspoon or so of butter in the center of each fruit, and top with the spices of your choice, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Serve warm with a little cream, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Mini Fruit Pie: Wash, peel and chop the fall fruit of your choice to make about 1 cup. Spread out a premade refrigerated pie crust, and cut it into four pieces. Spoon 1/4 of your fruit onto each crust piece. Sprinkle each tiny pie with sugar and cinnamon and add a dot of butter to the top. Gather up the crust around the fruit filling and pinch to make a little fruit pouch. Place the mini pies in a muffin tin or on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes.