Ah, Autumn. My favorite season. Leaves show off their true colors, the wing grows cold, guiding plants and animals into hibernation as Winter stirs, and the harvest comes in off the fields, feeding us all through the cold months.
My dear friend Susan Stuart invited me to go apple-picking with her today, and I jumped at the chance! Farm fresh apples? Where do I SIGN?! We drove up to the farm of a friend of hers, and went to town. The trees were heavy with baking apples and yellow beauties. I filled my OVFF backpack tot he brim! And as I did, I could hear the trees rustle just a little more freely as the breeze blew in. The weight of the fruit they bore was heavy, and they seemed glad to be rid of it to us. these trees were old, at least 25 years, and we came home with bushels!
So, I decided it was time to try my hand at pie! I might go for apple butter next, but tonight, PIE. I had to go to the store anyway, so I quested off to get the extra ingredients I needed. There I was, scouring the isles, a knight in shining shopping cart in search of my pie-tin dragon! I'm fairly certain Eric is still laughing at me. Husbands, who knows?
The peeling and slicing took much longer than I anticipated, but it was worth it. I'd never worked with apples so FRESH before. This, my dear ones, is why I want apple trees of my own someday. To care for them, to watch their fruit grow and change color and begin to fall to the ground. To lighten their boughs before the frosts and start the process again in the spring with sweet apple blossoms. Yes, one day, I will have trees of my own.
But back to pie! I went for Dutch style since I have 2 tins, 2 pie crusts, and a TON of apples. Making the crumble topping was a little more than I bargained for, but with wooden spoon in hand I defeated my enemy! No butter would undo me! No flour would deter me ! I would have PIE!
Two of them, in fact. Indeed, husband and children were met with gooey goodness of hot apple pie, and I learned how the heck to make such a thing! All is well, my lovelies. all is yummy...
