Apple Picking

On the last weekend of September, I escaped the city for my parents' home upstate, with dogs and friends in tow. Apple picking was first on the agenda, but we surprisingly managed to fit in a number of other quintissential fall activitities: farmers market shopping, wine tasting at a vineyard, an easy hike, a corn maze, lounging on the deck, a big birthday dinner at home for my sister, and drinks at the local bar. We also started filming a little apple themed movie while at the orchard.

Every year I hit up Ochs Orchard for our apples, because I think it has a great view and it's less crowded than some of the other several orchards in town. It's easy to walk deep into the orchard and not be disturbed by another soul for a while. This year I was surprised to realize that many of the apples were coated in a film that must be pesticides. I will be looking for more natural orchard next year...

I brought home a haul of 13 or so apples and used a couple of them already in an easy-peasy chocolate chip apple cake for company last Friday night. A few are destined for applesauce and a few more for those apple pie tests that we actually haven't gotten around to yet. Send me your favorite apple recipes! I think it would be fun to hear them.