Where should we go today?

How 'bout some apple picking out west?

After Mass, we loaded up the car with the kiddoes, a good book on audio cd, a quick stop at Panera's for their awesome deal on 13 bagels and two tubs of cream cheese, and then we headed west. In ONE HOUR, we were at Stribling Orchard and it was not only a beautiful, autumnal drive ... it was an amazing discovery for our family.

We eat apples all the time. Anytime the kids are hungry, dh and I respond, "eat an apple". We eat apples chopped up with potatoes, or apples sauted with cabbage, or applesauce, or apple cake .... well you get the idea.

But to find a "pick your own" with tons of varieties, still lots on the trees, and a good price (we paid $1.25/lb) was a great discovery for these intrepid travelers -- and only an hour door-to-door!

We're on the short side, so it's nice they have picking-poles to use!

Here's Bam-bam ready to grab some o'them apples

A stop on the path to investigate Mr. Wooly Worm. The kids were so sad as we kept finding decapitated Wooly Worms -- but this one was still running across the road when the kiddoes surrounded him.
A bit of tail-gaitin' is always nice -- especially when you buy some of the Orchard's, just-made , hot-and-yummy, cinnamon-sugar donuts! Wow! How come we only bought six of those?Home in time to watch football -- with 23 pounds of luscious, yummy apples (and a jar of the Orchard's Honey and a few of those donuts left!)

Stribling Orchard has been here since the early 1800s -- when Dr. Stribling first rented, than bought the property. The current owners -- the SIXTH generation of Striblings -- have maintained and expanded the orchard to include over 2500 apple trees (23 different varieties) and then in the summer they have peaches (18 different varieties). The folks here are so nice ... the apples are so good ... and the other delectables in the store are amazing.

The orchard still has tons of apples if you haven't had a chance to head out and pick your own. We're going to go out again at the end of the month just to see what's left and enjoy another spectacularly beautiful (70 degrees and bright blue skies!) day on the farm.

ETA: Dh and I have decided we may just make another trip next Sunday with a friend from Denver -- show her the lovely scenery and snatch up some more apples. The smell permeates the house tonight (especially since I whipped up a batch of applesauce with those apples that looked a bit "iffy" -- but all were great and made some awesome applesauce).

Here's how we made the applesauce:

1. Peel and core the apples -- remove any worm spots or other "not-niceties".
2. Place in pot, covered with water and a few cinnamon sticks -- we had about a dozen apples and 3 cinnamon sticks.
3. Bring to boil; turn down to med-low heat and let simmer for 45-60 minutes.
4. Remove the cinnamon sticks then mash slightly then add about two cups of sugar and more spices -- we like a bit of allspice, clove and more dried cinnamon.
5. Simmer another 20-30 minutes then let cool.
6. Great for breakfast the next morning with hot oatmeal -- or add a bit of vanilla ice cream to a bowl and eat tonight!