Tag: apples

Apple Pickin’ in the Orchard

Apple Pickin’ in the Orchard

Posted on by Mama

apple pickin'

One of my favorite fall activities is apple pickin’ at Schweizer Orchards in St. Joe. We started this tradition when my son and I joined a mom’s group years ago, and both of us quickly took to the cool mornings, apple picking and picnicking with our friends. Unfortunately, my little guy is in first grade these days and most of our group outings are during the day, so that means no apple picking for him during the week (when all the fun stuff is not overly crowded). Fortunately for me I don’t mind, and neither it seems do the other moms, showing up to some of the good stuff without my child in tow. My husband calls me the MOMS Club® stalker. . .  He might be right, but I don’t care. Besides, who couldn’t use an extra set of hands when you’re out and about with the kids.

So when apple pickin’ rolled around on a cool cloudy day this week you bet I was there, with rubber boots on my feet and a smile on my face. My little man was seriously not happy when he found out where I was headed, but one of my freshly picked apples did make a delicious after-school snack. He also loves my Apple Crisp, so I’ve promised to make one sometime soon. I think he has forgiven me, but maybe we will find time for a family outing to the orchard another day this season.

apple pickin'

For those of you who live close to St. Joe (and if not, it’s probably worth the drive), you might want to visit Schweizer someday soon. They still have several varieties of apples ready to pick and the pumpkin patch will open in October. They host several types of group tours, including our basic tour that costs $1.50 per child for story time, an orchard tour, and one apple chosen right off the tree. Moms can also pick apples and pay per the pound (I paid 99 cents a pound for my juicy hand-picked apples). In addition to the orchard, they have a great playground and picnic area, so it is really easy to enjoy most of a morning outside with the kids. They also have open hours for picking, so you don’t have to be part of a tour to enjoy the orchard. If you want to know more about Schweizer Orchards, you should visit their website or give them a call. . . before the trees are bare.

Exactly Where Did the Apple Core Go?

Exactly Where Did the Apple Core Go?

Posted on by Mama

apple core

After a late lunch Saturday afternoon, we decided to have PB&J’s for family dinner. My husband generously volunteered to assemble the meal and even added some yummy apple slices to our plates.

We have one of those little gadgets that wedges an apple while taking out the core — I’m sure you all can visualize, and perhaps own, one of these handy little tools. The problem with said gadget is that most apples aren’t perfectly round and there is usually a bit of tough apple core left in the middle of most of the cut wedges. Of course it’s not a huge ordeal to cut this part out with a knife, and I routinely do this chore for our son.

Little did I know that my husband had on this evening invented a new way to take out the tough bits left behind by the apple corer. . . take a closer look at my apple photo (of course I had to take a picture to document the event). Yes, my dinner-preparing husband decided that it was much quicker and more productive to actually bite out those tough centers on each and every apple wedge before he placed them on our plates.

Hmmm. . . after a good laugh, I ate the apples. But rest assured, I will not for any reason put my husband on fruit duty when guests are coming to dinner.