Apple Crisp for Dinner

Awww sleeping with the windows open, waking to the cool mornings followed by sunny warm afternoons. This is the best time of year for most living in New England. I can't say this is my favorite time of year, but it sure is pretty. With the trees starting to turn those fall colors of reds, oranges and yellows. Running Threw the yard and kicking around the fallen leaves, waiting for more to fall so that they can be raked up into a great big pile for jumping in. So this time a year around in these parts of Western Mass. the traffic gets a bit busy with all of the folks coming out to pick apples in the many orchards that are all around us.

This past weekend Trini and I went apple picking two days in a row. Friday was a field trip with her preschool class. What fun those little kids had, was just so cute to see. We all arrived to a tractor pulling a great big wagon of hay. Trini was a bit Scared about going the hay ride at first, but she got over that fear really fast and had a great time sitting next to her teacher, Miss Marsha. Our hay ride took us along the river seeing all of the funny pumpkin faces along the way,ending our trip in the middle of the apple orchard. Our guild took the little kids to an area of trees and really taught them a bunch about how to pick the apples and not hurt the trees. They also learned about the cidar apples on the ground and to leave them on the ground. So with their bags as full as they could get and munching on apples, it was time to walk over see the animals on the farm. Bunnies, goats, and pigs oh my. Trini loved feeding the goats. The kids ran around in the pumpkin patch looking for that perfect pumpkin. Oh what a wonderful sunny warm day for picking apples. 

      Suzie, Miss Marsha & Trini

Our guild telling us all about picking apples.

Trini & Jordan BFF

Tanner, Eric, Jason, Ben, Miss Marsha, Trini & Jordan

Me & Trini

 The goats

The pumpkin patch

 Trini's Class

The perfect pumpkin

Saturday was another day of apple picking for Trini and I. It was Elizabeth's 4th birthday party, which was being held at yet another apple orchard in Stow, MA. We woke up to a very wet rainy day, not a good day for apple picking.


We arrived at 10 am in our rain gear ready to make a great time of it. And, oh my, the kids seemed to really love running around the big open fields jumping in mud puddles. Some of us waited under the big red and white tents for all to show up and tried to stay as dry as we could. The rain seemed to let up a bit, and off we went up into the apple orchards to pick our apples. We were the only ones there, we had the whole place to ourselves. No hayride in the rain or petting the animals, for even the animals weren't coming out to play in this weather. We picked what I really do believe are the best apples I have ever eaten ever. Yummie. So with our bags full, we all walked back to the cover of our big festive tent for ice cream, apple donuts and cider. It turned out to be a really fun day of picking apples in the rain. Elizabeth may never forget her 4th birthday
party.

Mud puddles

Trini apple picking in the rain

 "On my there is alot of cider apples" says Trini

The birthday party - Trini who didn't want to be in the picture

It's dry under here

Elizabeth the birthday girl

Well with my kitchen full of freshly picked apples, what does one do with the rest of a rainy Saturday? ... make apple crisp. Trini and I baked the best apple crisp I have ever had ever!!! To tell you the truth this was my first time making it. I think adding the Almonds was a good idea you had, Trini. What a great time I had with my daughter these past two days. It was apple crisp for dinner.

Apple crisp...

Apple Crisp Recipe

5 Cups sliced peeled apples

2 to 4 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 Cup regular rolled oats

1/2 Cup packed brown sugar

1/4 Cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 Cup butter

1/4 Cup of chopped almonds

For filling, place apples in a round save to bake in dish.  Stir in sugar.

For topping, in a mixing bowl combine oats, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.  Cut in butter till mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in chopped almonds.  Sprinkle topping over filling.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Serve with ice cream or light cream.  Makes 6 servings.