What a Day for Apples!

Category: stories and travels, fruit, beverages, veggies, desserts



Thursday, October 23rd my best friend, Kassandra, church group traveled to Blue Ridge Mountain, Georgia from East Point. There were about 24 in her group of men and women ranging from 47 to 85 years old. She continued to write about her experience there, it sounds like such a sweet place to go to and hopefully one day my hubby and I will get to travel there.

"Everyone was excited about the Apple Picking Trip on this sunny, Autumn day. Upon our arrival, we went to The Victorian House for lunch. A Victorian home was renovated to a comfortable restaurant with delicious menu choices. Antique furniture and a wood carved fireplace were some of the enchanting features in our reserved room. We arrived at the Mercier Orchards at 2:00 p.m. surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. There also were apple orchards, horses, and a river. There were many buses and cars in the driveway and droves of people scurrying to get inside of Merciers', a log-cabined styled store. Inside the store, was a small café, a long line for fried fruit pies, souvenirs, and almost every product that can or could be made with apples.

I made it to the rear of the store where I saw how the apples make it to the plastic bags. Many had them in their hands or were in their push carts. The apples are brought in on a forklift and dropped into a huge water assembly line of where they are washed thoroughly. Next, the apples are de-leafed by a machine. Then, the apples receive a spray of wax before they are dried by a blower. Lastly, the apples are divided up to be bagged in small to large plastic bags. The assembly line worker then takes the bag, full of apples, and places them on tables. I was glad to see that there were no chemicals put in the apples, and the ones I tasted were so flavorful.

After we made our purchases of apple butter, apple sauce, apple pies, apple cake, etc., we boarded our van and headed back to East Point, Georgia. I left reluctantly, but grateful to God for His handiwork in the creation of the apples and mountains. The trip was lovely and I was blessed to spend the day enjoying life with God, apples, and fellowship." - Kassandra

Other uses for Apples, check out these out!
Apple & Peach Juice




Ingredients:
1 apple, cored and sliced
2 peaches, remove seed

Preparation:
Mix in juicer or blender and serve!

Apple Kiwi Juice




Ingredients:
1 apple, cored and sliced
2 kiwis, peeled and remove seeds

Preparation:
Mix in juicer or blender and serve!

Baked Apple with Cranberry Sauce




Ingredients:
4 apples
1 tbsp. cinnamon
16 oz. cranberry sauce
1/2 c. flour
1 c. uncooked quick oats
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened

Preparation:
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Core and remove 1 inch strip around middle of apple. Place apples upright in ungreased baking dish 9"x13" pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Spoon cranberry sauce over mix by stirring flour, oats, sugar and butter. Sprinkle over cranberry sauce. Bake about 40 minutes at 350 degrees until apples are done. YUMMY!

Pumpkin Apple Risotto with Tofu Pieces



inspired by Chris vegalicious.org

Ingredients:
2 c. pumpkin, cut into bite sized chunks
2 c. apple cider or apple Juice
2 tbs. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 c. Arborio rice
3 apples, peeled and diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 tbs. cinnamon, ground
1/4 tsp. allspice, ground
2 tbs. Italian herbs
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
Saute the onion in oil, add the bell pepper. Add the cider or apple juice and bring to a simmer, cook until hot. Add rice, stir in 2 cups hot water; bring to simmer.

Add the pumpkin chunks and cook for 5-10 minutes until the pumpkin is soft. Add apple; cook 1 t0 2 minutes more. Add the chillies or tabasco and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Apple Coffee Cake




Ingredients:
6 apples, cored and sliced (may substitute peaches)
5 tbsp. plus 2 c. sugar
5 tsp. cinnamon
3 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. oil
4 eggs
1/4 c. orange juice
1 tbsp. vanilla

Preparation:
Combine apples, 5 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl. Make a well in center and pour in oil, eggs, orange juice and vanilla. Beat until blended.

Drain apple mixture of excess moisture. Spoon 1/3 of batter into a greased 9 inch or 10 inch angel food pan. Make a rind of 1/2 apple mixture on top of batter, taking care not to have any apple touching the sides of the pan.

Spoon another third of the batter over, make another ring of remaining batter. Cover with aluminum foil if cake begins to over brown. Bake at 375 degrees for 1-1/4 hours.