Wow!

[ann_leckie]

Did you know, when you pick a Johathan apple off the tree, it's kind of dull and dingy looking. Though it still looks very good to eat, and tastes wonderful. But when you take it and rub it on your jeans, it turns into the Platonic ideal of an apple--shining, luminous deep red, absolutely the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen in your life.

For some reason, the Jonathan apples in the grocery store never look that way, even though they're often all shined up already.

Yes, we went apple-picking today. I'd been meaning to go for years, and always thought of it when it wasn't apple time, but I knew the kids would enjoy it. Which they did. Another Did You Know--it is surprisingly easy to pick forty pounds of apples in a very short period of time. In that same time, each apple picker can consume approximately two to three apples while they're filling up their bag. We ate even more in the car on the way back. Mr. Cameron's mother swears that Red Delicious apples are wonderful just off the tree, but I find them uninspiring even then. The Paidhi Kids, though, were all about the red and golden delicious. That and the jonathans were all that were on offer today--if I'd have thought a couple of weeks ago there'd have been others available, but hey. We had a lovely time. While still in the orchard I showed the polishing trick to Paidhi Boy, and his eyes got big and round, and then he grabbed an apple and started rubbing. His discovery--the golden delicious don't polish up quite as dramatically, but the red delicious do okay. Paidhi Girl wasn't as impressed.

Candy apples are cooling (I suspect Paidhi Boy was so enthusiastic about them because they're so RED, and have "candy" in the name, but I've never really enjoyed eating them. We'll do caramel another day), Paidhi Girl is poring over Rombauer's apple pie instructions (frozen crust with no top--yes, I'm a wimp), and tomorrow we're going to be canning applesauce.

Comments

[rachel-swirsky.livejournal.com]

That sounds so happy.

[sallytuppence.livejournal.com]

It does. Hey, R., do you know about Wilson's orchard, out on rte 1? So many different kinds of apples and a beautiful orchard farm and tractor rides! And apple turnovers to die for.

It does. Hey, R., do you know about Wilson's orchard, out on rte 1? So many different kinds of apples and a beautiful orchard farm and tractor rides! And apple turnovers to die for.

[Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], I'm with you on the frozen crust pies, though.

[sallytuppence.livejournal.com]

(okay, I'm not reposting this time, even though I screwed up the comment again!

[ann-leckie.livejournal.com]

I have made my own pie crust from scratch. So I can say that I'm capable of it, and have actually done it. In a pinch, in a pie emergency, I could do it again.

I keep frozen store bought crusts in the freezer to prevent just such an emergency. (and when you have them, quiche is such a quick and easy supper...)

[ann-leckie.livejournal.com]

Indeed! It was a lovely day! There might be apple butter later on in the week, depending.

[accordingto-ada.livejournal.com]

And now I'm feeling guilty that I haven't put up any jam yet from the pear tree in the back yard.

[ann-leckie.livejournal.com]

Hmm, you could always just can the pears, or freeze them...do pears freeze well? I confess I've never tried it. I once had a lovely tart with pears and almond paste. Mmmmm.