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, My Corner of the World and Slices of Life.

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