How About Them Apples??

Ever since I was just a wee, little babe, the Fall months have always been occupied with frequent weekend trips to Apple Hill to enjoy every aspect of the fruitful harvest. Just recently, however, I have discovered a new favorite past-time involving this bountiful harvest: apple-picking.

It began back in college as a way to amass copious quantities of food at a cheap price, plus it was an excellent way both to procrastinate on homework and get some fresh air. We, a ravenous pack of students, would gather on a crisp Saturday morning, early before brunch, piling into the largest vehicle we could find and head off to one of the you-pick-your-own apple orchards of Northern Virginia. We never returned with less than a large grocery bag each stuffed with juicy, plump apples straight from the tree. The drive home always consisted of plotting the variety of ways we would be spending consuming our horde...

Strangely, in all my trips to Apple Hill over the years, I had never been to a you-pick-your-own apple orchard. Looking back, it is downright scandalous...every child should have the opportunity to earn his apples by the sweat of his brow! But, finally, last year, I went up with some friends who were brave enough to fight the elements in order to enjoy those precious green and ruby gems. Unfortunately, much to our chagrin, we arrived a bit late in the season only to find the trees nearly bare. We consoled ourselves with caramel apples at High Hill.

But, never fear! This year, we were wise and headed up a bit earlier. This past Sunday was joyously spent frolicking around a beautiful orchard owned by a gracious woman who was offering her apples at $5 a half-bushel. Couldn't pass up an offer like that! We'll take two, thank you! Leaping in and out amongst the trees, we found plenty to fill our boxes...and more! A bit of a search was required, but that made it all the more adventurous. Those apples which seemed within arms reach were nearly always about two inches too far. If you jumped and tugged, you usually ended up dodging about half a dozen apples knocked loose as they rained down on you. There was always the option of the apple-picking device (does it have a name?) that one of the guys mentioned might be used alternatively as a lacrosse stick, which, of course, caused an impromptu 'apple lacrosse' match to begin -- duck! It was too bad there was a sign at the front which asked us not to climb the apple trees. That's truly the best way of getting them down...or, rather, I think I'll just sit up there and munch away the afternoon.

Oh, what to bake??

The guards of the orchard

A valiant effort to grab the apples hiding amongst the branches and leaves

We left the hard-to-reach ones to the tall guys....

Dinner with the Hs

My dear friend, Catherine, got married a couple weeks ago. In honor of her nuptials, I made her an apron of the finest cotton (haha!)....well, the cutest darned apron this side of the Mississippi anyway! :-)

The other evening we broke in her new kitchen making a scrumptious dinner of chicken and potatoes on the fly for the boys. Donning our adorable aprons, we threw together a one-dish supper of chicken breasts, fingerling, purple and red potatoes (red, white and blue...how patriotic!), and carrots, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt, pepper, thyme and oregano.

Her awesome hubby was responsible for a fantastic salad, complete with fine carrot shavings in their new, dark wooden bowl. He had to try on the apron too...doubles as a 'manpron'. :-p

They uncorked and shared with us a bottle of rose wine from a winery in Napa made with strawberries. Guess I could have died and gone to heaven!!

the newlyweds :o)

Catherine's favorite shots: taken with mouths full of food...surely to assure the viewer that the food was being enjoyed...or is that a grimace I see on your face, Matt??

We spent the evening stuffing ourselves silly (too bad I forgot to take photos of the enormous bowls of cookies 'n cream and mint chocolate chip ice cream we had for dessert...oh, and don't forget the 3 oreos each!) and laughing until our faces hurt. No better way to spend an evening than in the company of good friends and good food... :-)

As Summer Fades Away

I strolled through the Farmers' Market this past Sunday, filling my basket with the last of the fine delicacies of summer produce. These were my finds....

white peaches

fingerling and purple potatoes

tomatillos

figs

cherry and pear tomatoes

purple bell peppers



For a bit of fun and games...anyone want to take a stab at the surfaces that served as backdrops for my lovely fruits and veggies?? :-)

Canned Pumpkin Scarcity

Just as the autumnal weather comes upon us, causing me to gear up for Fall baking endeavors with my delicious pumpkin, I discover a SHORTAGE of canned pumpkin at the grocer. Yes, you read that correctly: a scarcity of canned pumpkin.

My past few promenades down the canned vegetable aisle have left me disappointed without a trace of pumpkin in sight. I thought it was merely a coincidence. But then, a few days ago I went to the store, eager to buy some pumpkin for these scones I've been craving, and found a gaping hole where the canned pumpkin should have been. I was seriously in disbelief. How could it be that no stores in my area were keeping pumpkin in stock! Especially this time of year when everyone is beginning to crave that scrumptious Fall veggie! Scandalous! I kept glancing up and down the aisle, hoping that they had been misplaced. We even consulted a clerk as to whether they were on special display somewhere else in the store.

Not a can in sight.

I resorted to the pumpkin pie canned mixture and tweaked my recipe to accommodate. (Doesn't quite taste the same though, but did the trick.)

Then, as we are checking out, bemoaning the fact we could not find our beloved canned pumpkin, the cashier informs us that there has recently been a run (and, therefore, a scarcity) on canned pumpkin caused by a new fad of feeding pumpkin to one's dogs.

Apparently, pumpkin is the new doggie diet pill. It is recommended for overweight dogs to replace a bit of the dry food with canned pumpkin. It aids them in digestion and keeps them full longer due to the added fiber, keeping them from eating too much fattening dry food....Hey! Maybe we should try this diet for fat humans too! Ingenious. I claim the canned pumpkin for the humans. We get first dibs! Sorry, but I'd rather keep myself looking svelte than my dog....is that selfish?

So, yes, if you want to make anything other than a pumpkin pie right now (unless your local pumpkin patch is open and you want to cook a pumpkin), your fresh out of luck because our dogs are on the skinny pumpkin diet. Currently searching for a substitute....sweet potatoes, anyone??

Hot and Sweet

I discovered this new flavor of Jelly Belly the other day: Chili Mango. It is their latest in the 50 Flavor line-up. It produces a progression of flavors, from fruity sweetness to a spicy kick. The lady at the shop said she tried it with some chips and salsa....I do love me some mango salsa. Perhaps I'll give it a whirl.