A few years ago, driving down the interstate from Minnesota to Illinois, a few hours of scenery into Wisconsin, a simple sign that just said APPLES in big red letters lured me off-road, past cranberry bogs, and to Rex’s barn where the sweet smell of apples invited me in. Since then, whenever I’m traveling this route in fall, I try to stop for apples – and did just that on my way home on Sunday.
I pulled into the drive, past the farmhouse, and to the barn, the cool Autumn air wafting in through the car windows, a family was backing their van out, leaving me a very nice space to park. They, and others, were on the midwest fall adventure of picking their own apples. Seeing them brought back memories of doing the same when our girls were young.
The barn was bustling with activity when I walked in. Apples were rolling down the washer and Rex family members were explaining the process to bright eyed youngsters. I stepped into the cooling area, glad to have put on my jacket, sampled a few apples and cider before picking a bag of Cortland apples and a jumbo head of cabbage.
There was an “honor” box for purchases, but, I waited for a young lady to tally my purchase. I really just wanted to soak in the atmosphere of an apple orchard in fall, content in my haul – and that I wasn’t the one out in the orchard doing all the hard work!
Tom came home last night, with another even bigger bag of Cortlands, having stopped as well on his journey down the interstate. We are set with apples for some time here on the Cutoff.
Apple crisp, applesauce, and just plain eating apples out-of-hand are on the menu. I’ve had a taste for an apple Dutch pancake, all puffed up and steamy from the oven, with a little dusting of powdered sugar on top. My favorite recipe for Dutch apple pancakes is from P. Allen Smith and can be found here. The picture below is from the site. I use my cast iron skillet and omit the caramel sauce.
Do you have some favorite apple baking recipes?
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
Oh that looks good. Many years ago, there was a chain of restaurants in Minneapolis called the Pannekoeken (?) House. perhaps it’s still there. Their specialty was oven pancakes, similar to these. This, however will have to wait for a special occasion. Too many in the past has caught up to me. 🙂
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Such things do have a way of catching up to us, don’t they? Pannekoeken sounds like a dangerous place – I wonder if the chain is still there. Hmmm?
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Oh, your little side trip looks delightful. There is a place not too far up the road called Apple Basket Farms. I love to go in there and just breathe. It is so fragrant. My favorite apple recipe is one called Raw Apple Cake taken from a church cookbook. Over the years it has morphed into Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze. Yummm I love it and it is easy to make. One of my favorite snacks is simply apple slices dipped in peanut butter. I often take it to school at lunch and it fascinates the kids. I guess they think I am too old to like peanut butter.
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I know what you mean about “just breathe” Janet. There is such a distinctive fragrance to apples that is like no other. Your evolving Fresh Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze sounds like something I could get into a lot of caloric trouble with, the fact that it was originally from what I call a “church ladies’ cookbook” makes it all the more enticing. They are the best cookbooks.
Isn’t it fun how children react when we adults eat things like peanut butter with apples? Oh dear, now I want some.
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Yum, yum, yummy!! I too love apples, Penny. Here’s my fave recipe: http://andrawatkins.com/2011/10/12/sneaky-ode-to-earlybird/
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Oh, Andra, now you’ve gone and done it. Got me into a craving with your link. Looks delicious. Thanks.
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I use a lot more butter than Earlybird used in her recipe. You’re just close enough to Wisconsin to get away with that. 🙂
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Now I’ll be in a lot more trouble with that buttery hint, Andra. Good thing I didn’t pull of at the Osseo exit.
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Dear Penny, I used to have a recipe for a baked dish that had carrots and apples in it. But somehow in the move, I’ve misplaced it. Your posting makes me want to find it again! Peace.
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That sounds delicious, Dee. I have found lost recipes through the internet quite a few times. You might try googling it. Take care.
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Oh that looks so good. Local apples are on here and we’ve been enjoying the harvest — mostly in salads and out-of-hand, but I made a yummy Apple Crisp last weekend.
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I love apples in salad, Sallie, especially spinach. They give such a nice crunch and sweetness. Warm apple crisp. Heaven.
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APPLES! Apple anything. I can vaguely remember my grandfather pressing apples for apple cider. My favorite reading perch was in an apple tree. My mother used to make fried apples from that tree. I make fried apples sometimes but never quite taste like hers. I suspect the windfalls from that beloved apple tree weren’t quite “ripe” and that’s what made the taste so special. Louisburg Cider Mill at Louisburg, KS is a favorite destination for many in eastern Kansas. I’ll be making something apple soon.
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What a wonderful memory that most be, Joyce. I almost purchased some fresh cider at this orchard, but, needed to drive several hundred more miles. I did taste some and it was heavenly. And yet another wonderful memory of your favorite reading perch and your mom’s fried apples. I don’t do that often, but, when I do, with a little cinnamon or nutmeg sprinkled on top, ooooo! The deer get the windfalls here, which is fine. I hope you get to the Louisburg Cider Mill soon. Enjoy!
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All I can say is…more evidence of the wonders of Wisconsin ! J.
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. . . and then there are the Kringles and cheese and on and on. Love it.
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What a pleasure it is to find these places, and pick up the fruit from where it’s grown. I love anything cooked with apples. My mother used to bake them in the oven, after filling the hollowed out core with brown sugar and cloves.
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It truly is, Juliet, and I love baked apples made that way. The fragrance emanating from the oven, followed by the tantalizing tastes. My mouth is watering – and it is only 8 am.
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What a wonderful time. I haven’t made one of those puffy pancakes in a long time. Thanks for the reminder. I just bought some honey crisps yesterday. Ever tasted them? Very crunchy which I love.
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Love honey crisps, Nan. I even did a post on them a year or two ago. They’ve been pretty expensive here, but, I just may have to get a few. We first tasted honey crisps in Vermont about 8 or 9 years ago, finding them at a farmstand. Yum.
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I just this morning thought to myself how the apple recipes and sharing from the orchards has ushered in a feel for fall. Here in Southern California we just don’t feel like fall yet! At all…it’s still ridiculously hot. So baking crisps, or cobbler–anything really, isn’t too appealing. But my taste buds are getting primed and the weather will probably shift over night! I love your photos! And I’m looking forward to fall and apples! I sure am! D
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Fall will come to you soon enough, Debra, and you can start to feel the wonder of apples in fall. We are definitely feeling it here right now and I’m finding it refreshing. Hope the heat abates soon for you.
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What a wonderful visit, Penny. I love our Kent orchards. They grow the trees in such a pronounced habit, and they look like nowhere else against an Autumn sunset.
Favourite apple dish: apple crumble….
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I can almost see those orchards, Kate, and now I’m thinking of apple crumble.
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I really enjoyed taking this little trip to the apple farm with you Penny! You’re living good!
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All these little slices of life keep my going, Kate. We are still eating the apples.
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[…] stopped at the apple orchard I mentioned a few blogs past, happy to know it was still selling apples this late into October, and […]
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