A Trip To The Apple Orchard

My favorite time of year is here!  I love this cool, crisp fall weather and watching the leaves turn beautiful shades of orange, crimson, and cinnamon brown.  Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting Tuttle Orchards, an adorable orchard just tucked on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle of the city.  Locally grown apples, pumpkins, and vegetables abound at this hidden gem.  Now I don't know about you, but sipping a warm mug of cider and picking my very own apples is my kind of Friday, and this is the perfect time of year to stock up on apples and freeze them for year-round use.

When we arrived we were informed that we were the first to pick the newly ripened Ida apples, a beautiful red and green apple that is great for cooking and baking. 

We also loaded up our baskets with plenty of our favorite, Jonathan apples.  Not only are they great for baking and cooking, but they make a great snack.  My son, who never eats his fruits or veggies, managed to eat 2 before we even got out of the orchard. 
 

Pulling 15lbs of apples by himself!



Tips on Freezing Apples

• Choose ripe apples that feel firm and crisp, avoid apples that have brown spots or appear mealy.
•  Generally, if the apple is good for baking, it will also be good for freezing.
• Once an apple is frozen, it will not be good for eating raw, but needs to be used as apple butter, applesauce, or baked apple dishes etc.

How To Freeze Apples

1. Wash apples thoroughly.
2. Peel, Core, and Slice apples.
3. Sprinkle apples with lemon juice or Fruit Fresh to prevent browning.
4. Lay the apples flat on a baking sheet and flash freeze.
5. Put frozen apples into Ziploc bags, storage containers, or whatever your preferred method of storage.

*To use your apples as pie filling, add the spices and sugar to the apples.  Line a pie tray with foil, fill with pie filling and wrap tightly in foil.  Once it is hard, remove from the pie pan and place in Ziploc bag for long-term storage.  Don't forget to date and label! 
*When ready to bake, just place the filling in a pie shell and bake.  You may need to increase the baking time, and don't forget to put foil over your pie crust so it doesn't burn. 



Look at all these frozen fruits and veggies!