Monday, September 28, 2009

When Life Gives You Apples, Make Cider!


When the wild asters are in full bloom, the skies are bluer than blue, and the breezes bring that distinctive feel to the air, you know it's fall. The leaves have started to change, so much so that the woods dotted here and there are becoming a patchwork of yellows, reds, oranges, and shades of green.

One of the popular fall activities around here is making apple cider. I can remember doing this as a class to sell at the homecoming football game when I was a senior in high school. So when my friend and co-worker, Diana, invited us to her and Cal's place to pick apples and make cider, we enthusiastically made the short trip through Amish country to join the festivities.



When we got there, things were already in full swing. There was a fire going so we could roast hot dogs and guests had brought plenty of food to go with them.


Once we got some food in our bellies, we got to work. Apples needed to be picked...





washed...




run through the mill on the cider press...





then pressed...




and the result was sweet cider that brought the yellow jackets hovering for the first taste...




And of course, there were plenty more for pies and cobbler and just eating plain...




22 comments:

Dave@The Home Garden said...

That cider looks good! One of my favorite things about fall...fresh apple cider!

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Apple cider is good, but the process itself is fun for kids and adults. I also like to pick up apples in an orchard. We used to do it as a family in the Midwest. Here, in the NW, we haven't found a place where they allow you to do that. It looks like you had a wonderful warm autumn day!

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Looks like a fun afternoon with some nice treats to bring home. My kids went apple picking last fall and made applebutter in their college apartment. I was impressed!

Nutty Gnome said...

Looks like you had a great day with the apples Kylee, it looks like good fun too! :)

Commonweeder said...

Kylee - Congratulations on the Blotanical nomination. I'm going to vote! This is a great post. We have occasionally helped neighbors press cider and it is great fun. In our area we have Cider Days in early November to celebrate the apples, the cider and the farms. BTW - that is not a bee sipping cider. I think it is a yellow jacket. As a former beekeeper (now allergic to stings) I like bees to be properly identified because they so often mid-identified as a stinging pest. It usually yellow jackets!

Sky said...

yummmmm! i love to make applesauce, too. i just realized you are from NW Ohio. My niece just moved to wadsworth to finish her doctoral internship. from the photos she has shared it is pretty country.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It looks like you had a beautiful day for your outing. That cider looks yummy.

Muum said...

that looks so tasty! I am contemplating what to do with apples, too, but I don't have a cider press.

Diana from Sweet Fields of Green said...

Oh that looks delicious! Cider has always been one of my favorites. I just bought 6 gallons from the orchard a couple of days ago....gotta go pour a glass right now! Thanks for sharing your pictures, it looks like you (and the yellow jackets!) had a lot of fun.

joey said...

Autumn hugs, Kylee! A delightful fall post ... a big toothy grin for as an old adage (somewhat) goes ... "An apple a day keeps the Dentist away!"

Kylee Baumle said...

Dave ~ You know I actually don't like cider, unless it's warmed and has spices added. But it was a fun day! Romie likes cider though.

Tatyana ~ No place in Washington to pick your own apples? Say it isn't so!

Janet ~ Wow, that IS impressive!

Nutty Gnome ~ It was a beautiful day and great fun!

Commonweeder ~ Thank you! :-)
You know, I know those aren't bees, but sometimes I call those flying biting/stinging things all bees. Sort of like calling all cattle "cows" when only the females are cows. But I do know better and shouldn't have done it! Thanks for calling that to my attention. I've corrected it. I'm usually more particular than that. :-)
I too am allergic to bee stings and have been since I was a small child. I used to carry an Epi-pen, but let it expire and haven't gotten a new one. Probably should do that, huh?

Sky ~ Wadsworth is in northeast Ohio and about three hours east of us. Ohio has many beautiful places, each in their own way. If I could change just one thing about where we live, it would be to add a little bit of roll to the terrain. It's tabletop flat here.

Lisa ~ The day could not have been better!

Muum ~ Romie likes to make apple pie with the apples from our Red Delicious trees. He hasn't made any yet this year, but he will! They're really really good, too. Dutch apple! :-D

Diana ~ We did have fun, mostly fellowshipping with the others. It was a fine day!

Joey ~ That's what we say, isn't it? :-)

Gail said...

How delicious fresh cider sounds~~and to see it being pressed and to smell the apples. Yummy! gail

Unknown said...

Now I have the unmistakable urge for apple cider, Kylee! Guess I'll make do with eating an apple til I get to the farm market again. Delish!

Noelle Johnson said...

After reading your post, I now want to visit Amish Country, drink apple cider and make an apple pie!

Noelle Johnson said...

After reading your post, I now want to visit Amish Country, drink apple cider and make an apple pie!

Loyce said...

Hi, just wanted you to know that I have one of our research librarians here at the university with an art background, searching for the artist Deb Wright or Boyer. Will keep you posted.

Kylee Baumle said...

Gail ~ Yes, the smells of the day were fabulous!

jodi ~ I actually don't like cider, unless it's heated and has had spices added.

azplantlady ~ I love driving through there and have said if we ever move to a different house in our same general area, I would want it to be there. It's so pretty.

Loyce ~ Oh that would be fabulous if they could find her for me!! THANK YOU!
The original is a watercolor, in case you couldn't tell that from the photo.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your win at blotanical! Love this post about making cider--and such pretty country too.

Meems said...

This post looks like what I imagine Ohio to be... ordinary folks enjoying each other and outdoor activities as simple as cider making. I can imagine the delightful scent of all those apples.

Congratulations on your best Ohio blog award, my friend.
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

Shady Gardener said...

Making Apple Cider is an annual event at my sister-in-law's house. Great post - great memories. :-)

Congratulations, Kylee, on winning the Best Ohio Blog at Botanical! Yea!

Anonymous said...

That is TRULY an art form and looks ever so delectable! I love cider. I wanted to congratulate on your win at Blotanical!

Janet @ bigjobsboard said...

Wow! Amazing! Your blog is so entertaining and the same time useful. I always learned something new when I read your blogs. That's why you deserved to win at Blotanical. Congratulations. Keep up the good work.

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