Apple Roundup at the OK-Corral

I used to not like apples. I know, can you believe it?

I should probably clarify that it's the actual biting into the whole, fresh, apple that I've never liked to do.

I mentioned apples to my mom recently and she said the same thing. Now I know where I got it. And you know I can't help but say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Bada-bing!



But back to apples. I lurve apples now. When you step outside the confines of the typical apples at our typical grocery store, here in the Northwest, at least, you can discover a huge, wide world of apple glory. Varieties large and small, deep red, bright green, and every shade between. And the flavor differences are crazy.

We even have apple festivals and if you didn't make it to an apple weekend in Hood River this year, put it on your calendar for next, because they're a lot of fun. Here's a post with photos from a trip to pick apples in Hood River: so pretty!

The crazy popularity of the apple sampler weekends at Portland Nursery (where I took these apple photos) proves a point that we love apples, and tasting the many different kinds is a passionate sport. Tangy, tart, sweet, crunchy, smooth...apples run the gamut.



In fact, apples, some of our favorite things to do with apples, were the topic of a recent Lelo Homemade. Many I talked about were already here on the blog, but if you haven't made applesauce or apple butter in your slow cooker yet, you need to do it and revel in its simplicity. Here's a link to how I do it.

Of course there's apple pie, and I learned recently that mixing your apple types makes for the best kind of apple pie. Here's my KISS Apple Pie recipe.

Thinking apple cake instead? Alanna's Estonian Apple Cake is lovely, super simple, and shows off the apples well.

I also mention in the show that growing up I loved my grandmother's red hot cinnamon apples. I actually made them during my first canning explorations a few years back. My grandmother's will always taste better, but this is what I had tried....Spiced Apple Rings.



I cannot believe I haven't had any good, fresh, unpasteurized apple cider yet this season. This must be remedied! This shall be remedied! I'm putting it on my list right now...

Note: Lelo Homemade is now airing on Thursdays, 2:30pm on Cascadia.fm. You can always subscribe to it in iTunes and listen to it there, along with any of the previous shows as well. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for all of your support and listening! We are so pleased to know you are enjoying the show. Apples to you, dear listeners!