Do you ever find yourself too excited about something? I love fall. I love the temperature of fall, the smell of fall (this applies less to city living), the feeling of fall, the sound of fall, really...anything having to do with fall, I absolutely adore. Apple cider? yes please. Pumpkins? you betcha. Leaves changing color? did you even have to ask?
I think my love for fall stems from a number of places.
1) I'm a sunburner...so the idea of spending endless summer afternoons in the sun really just brings ideas of aloe and pain to my brain. aside from refreshing dips in a lake or pool, water-skiing and vacation, I could really do without the season. fall is way more up my alley.
2) I grew up in an educational setting, so the fall meant the hustle and bustle of our neighbors back in town and our neighborhood coming back to life.
3) My dad is a cross country coach, so my sister, my mom and I spent countless afternoons (or weekend mornings) watching and helping with cross country meets. I won't lie, feeling like I was a part of this larger XC family was pretty awesome and made me feel kind of cool...
4) A fresh start at school. New pens/highlighters/pencils, folders, and always a new "back to school outfit" from the grandparents and "back to school shoes", how could you NOT anticipate the fall?!
In any case, this year, once again, I'm a sucker for the fall. Last weekend we went with some friends an hour north of the city to go apple picking. We researched places to go and settled on Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard. We decided on this place because of the prospect of a hay ride, pumpkins along with apples and almost most importantly, cider and donuts. Let me tell you, we were NOT disappointed. This is where my level of excitement about fall starts to enter the "too excited about fall" zone. We left the apple orchard with 1/2 bushel of apples and my feeling as though it weren't enough. I mean, they give you the bag, you fill it, but how do you quantify that amount of apples when you have no familiar vessel in which to compare?! We got home and I promptly started filling our largest dish with apples to have "on display"...well...I filled that...and then needed to fill another dish. I was in over my head. So, like many (I hope I'm not alone here) I assumed that we would each eat an apple a day (you know, to keep the doctor away) and our excessive supply of apples would dwindle. nope. I still have apples coming out my ears. And lets just say there are only so many apple crisps you can make. SO, I provide you now with what I chose to do with the remainder (links to recipes included as they are tried and true):
7 apples straight up eaten.
2 apples added to morning smoothies
2 apples added to delicious apple/brie sandwiches
4 apples cooked into this delightful cold weather quinoa go-to recipe.
4 apples incorporated into two mini apple crostata's - thank you Ina Garten
9 apples blended into squah/apple soup
8 apples mashed into applesauce
1 apple (along with a cup of the fresh applesauce) mixed into muffins
So...how do you like them apples?
