First Annual Gaddy Apple-mania

Michael and I have a "date night" every week.  We try to get creative sometimes, and do more than just go to dinner- only sometimes, because we really like going out to eat.  Last week we really lived on the edge and moved our date night from our specified weeknight to Saturday afternoon.  I requested that we go to an apple orchard to pick apples.  I thought it would be a nice change, something to do while enjoying the weather and conversation.  Michael asked if apple season was over now that its fall.  "No way, haven't you noticed that fall decorations always have apples with them?" was my reply.  Well, who do you think had better reasoning skills here?  (Don't answer that, just keep reading).  A friend told me that Battlefield Park in Prairie Grove had an apple orchard open to the public, free of charge.  Saturday we gathered some re-usable grocery bags, and a step stool.  I wanted to outsmart everyone who didn't have access to some height, I wanted the best apples.  On our way out to Prairie Grove we ate lunch at Briar Rose- incredible! And coincidentally we ran into some friends there and ate with them.  A great surprise.  Now this detail is significant in this story because one of these friends mentioned that a little bit further down the road, in Lincoln, was another apple orchard, just in case our plan failed.(Foreshadowing?)
We made it to the Park, found the orchard, which was really small, and this is what we found....

Empty trees.  Thats right, folks, apple harvest is in August- September.  Not at all October.

A bad apple. But it at least confirmed that we were, in fact, in an apple orchard.

This little guy was cute.  I didn't touch him or anything.  Just intrigued by how much he looked like a cartoon character.  But he was real.  

This picture has absolutely no significance.  I accidentally uploaded onto this post, but I'm leaving it here in the spirit of fall. 

So, the orchard #1 was a fail.  We took the advice of our friend at lunch and drove to Lincoln, to a place called Apple World, or something equally encouraging.  We didn't get to pick our own, which was a disappointment, I mean, we had a ladder with us and everything.  But we did buy one peck of apples.  Delicious fresh ones.  Did you know that apples sold in normal grocery stores are sprayed with wax?  It says so right at the apple stands, just look close.  I eat them anyway, but it bothers me.  These apples were wax free.  

One peck= a lot of apples.

After we returned home, victorious with apples in hand, then began the real work.  We sat out on the back porch and I peeled and cored, sliced and diced an entire peck of apples.  Michael kept me company. 

One peck of apples, obliterated.  It took a long time.  

Here is what I created with all those apple pieces....

Apple cake.  Apple-y goodness in every bite.  I made three of them.  We devoured almost an entire one that night (with the help of friends, but we probably could have done it without them).  The other 2 I brought to our class at church the next morning.  It was taken care of there.  

I had to make an apple pie.  I brought the pie to family lunch after church. I forgot to photograph it before.  I'm not good at making pretty crust, but the little leaves on top distract from the ugly edge, right?

Apple butter! Yum. I ate it by the spoonful right when i finished.  Don't worry, apple butter does not actually contain butter, or fat for that matter. 

Coming soon: more fall goodies (but not of the apple persuasion)