10/30/20

Apples and Apple Picking

Apple picking and leaf peeping are some of our favorite fall traditions. We have fond memories of these outings with friends and families. We've been to many orchards, and three years ago, the Hilltop Orchards in the Berkshires and Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow. There's something to be said about picking your own variety of apples on a beautiful fall day. 
Hilltop Orchard in the Berkshires
You can walk or ride the tractor wagon to the trees
Resistance is futile ... on these yummy apple cider donuts
Pick the apples yourself or buy them from the store
At Honey Pot Hill, the cider donuts were even better than Hilltop's, and the farm animals delighted both kids and adults alike. 
The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions halted our plans to travel up north. We purchased some Cameo apples at the local farm stand and got some Pink Lady apples from our neighbors. A few days later found more apples in my galley, as Ingles, our local supermarket, had a sale on the Honeycrisp variety. What chef or cook can resist a sale on these gems? Normally selling for 3 times the price of other apples, these delicate crispy apples were a steal at $1.29 a pound! After reading this article, I now understand why Honeycrisp apples command such high prices and are so popular.
Honeycrisp apples, cut and in basket
3 Cameo on left, 2 Pink Lady on right
So, on top of the freshly picked gingko nuts and pecans, I have a lot on my plate.  But no worries. I do have a plan on what to do with them apples (looking at you, apple cider and apple turnovers).
fan-shaped leaves on a Gingko tree on a beautiful fall day
Picking Gingko nuts that had fallen on the ground
Washed and dried gingko nuts, pecans in the back

What are your favorite fall activities?

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and My Corner of the World.

You might also like:
Homebound: life amid coronavirus pandemic Falling for New England: The Berkshires Picking pecans in the fall


8 comments:

  1. Had to laugh at your resistance if futile comment. There is no way I could resist those donuts!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like apple picking. We have 14 apple trees and it is work but fun and the pies and such are delish. I didn't know about Gingkp nuts. Interesting
    MB
    MB

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like a wonderful day. Just heard in news apple is high in vitamin C and potassium and the skin is rich in vitamin too. Its true apple a day keeps the doctor away. The fresh pecan at your place was the best I ever tasted.
    sue

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful sky shot. The apple picking looks like a fun time. The donuts! Oh my. My mouth is watering.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd love to experience apple picking! Sounds like fun!

    Those doughnuts look amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like there are lots of fun things to do at Honey Pot Hill Orchard. I see more than one apple cider donut was eaten :) Didn't know gingko nuts are a thing with cooking. How do you use them? Lovely post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It seems you have a whole lot of terrific snacks!

    It's great to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Apple picking in the sunshine under the blue skies looks lovely. We've missed seeing anything that resembles autumn here in Thailand this year but I remember conkers from a horse chestnut tree and picking blackberries from the hedgerows from my UK youth!
    Wren x

    ReplyDelete