MaryJanesFarm Farmgirl Connection
Join in ... sign up
 
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Members | Search | FAQ
 All Forums
 General Chat Forum
 Holidays
 5th Annual Apple Festival at MJF!!

Note: You must be logged in to post.
To log in, click here.
To register, click here. Registration is FREE!

Screensize:
UserName:
Password:
Format Mode:
Format: BoldItalicizedUnderlineStrikethrough Align LeftCenteredAlign Right Insert QuoteInsert List Horizontal Rule Insert EmailInsert Hyperlink Insert Image ManuallyUpload Image Embed Video
   
Message:

* HTML is OFF
* Forum Code is ON
Smilies
Smile [:)] Big Smile [:D] Cool [8D] Blush [:I]
Tongue [:P] Evil [):] Wink [;)] Clown [:o)]
Black Eye [B)] Eight Ball [8] Frown [:(] Shy [8)]
Shocked [:0] Angry [:(!] Dead [xx(] Sleepy [|)]
Kisses [:X] Approve [^] Disapprove [V] Question [?]

 
Check here to subscribe to this topic.
   

T O P I C    R E V I E W
Red Tractor Girl Posted - Aug 26 2019 : 12:40:42 PM
Hey Farmgirls~ Today is August 26th and I wanted to remind everyone that come September 1, we still start celebrating our Fifth Annual Farmgirl Apple Festival!! For those of you who are new here to our Chatroom community, we started this tradition in 2014 to kick off and celebrate Fall.

I will be sponsoring an Apple Swap so please sigh up if you are interested.

I will also be sponsoring an Apple Giveaway so please sign up if you are interested.

Don't forget, we have an Apple Badge that you can work on this next month as well. It includes lots of fun activities to get you learning and enjoying this beloved and favorite fruit.

The past two years, we have been sharing information about lots of varieties of apples from our various regions of the US and Canada. We also share lots of yummy recipes, tidbits and photos of our areas and families. The fun part of learning more about apples is that you learn more about our American history. Apples that could be eaten, cooked and preserved came from Europe by early settlers and and fur traders. The only original apples here in America were astringent crab apples that even the Indians could not find useful.

The real origin of apples comes from the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan in the temperate western foothills. The Silk Road that went from Rome to Xi'an in China , was the route traveled for trading purposes to acquire things like spices. Apples were discovered by both the horses and the traders making the journey and were brought back to Rome where they became very popular. The Romans then spread them to Europe where they flourished as well.

Apples don't really grow well from seeds. To create trees of eatible apples, they must be grafted. In the early 1700s, the American colonists learned this skill and began to establish nurseries of grafted trees. The Apple Revolution began and soon people were all planting apple trees on their farms as a basic food source to make cider and fruit that could be eaten, cooked, preserved and stored for long winter months.

Thomas Jefferson planted large groves of apple trees at Monticello and concentrated on both eating and cider making varieties. The Newtown Pippin was one of the most popular variety from his orchards.

The legendary Johnny Appleseed, was really a man by the name of John Chapman who was an itinerant minister. He preached to small crowds as well as set up seedling nurseries throughout the Ohio Valley and the Midwest from the 1790s-1830s. Apples were a way of life!!

There is so much more about apples so please share here what you know and have experienced.

One more important note: Sunday September 29 will be our traditional Apple Pie Sunday Celebration!! Mark your calendars and think about what sort of apple pie recipe you would like to make this year. Be sure to share with us your ideas and tried and true apple pie favoites!

I look forward to enjoying lots of stories, recipes, and experiences with apples. If you grow them, please let us know what varieties you have. If you just love to eat apples and cook with them, let us know about your favorites.

Welcome everyone and I hope you will join us during the next month and share your thoughts, ideas, and stories. Don't forget the Apple Badge is an easy way to learn more about one of America's favorite fruit.!!

Recently, I was in Asheville, NC visiting my daughter and we found a family owned apple orchard close by in Hendersonville. Their early apples, Gala and Ginger Gold were ripe and ready to pick from the trees. We went out and I brought home two big bags full.



This past Saturday, I made Apple Butter for the first time and some larger jars of chunky Apple sauce. It sure made for a hot 5 hours in my Florida kitchen, the end products were delicious.



Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018
25   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
MaryJanesNiece Posted - Sep 30 2019 : 12:09:35 PM
Heather, your pumpkin apple pie sounds delicious! I have a candle with that smell and really enjoy it, so I can only imagine how delicious it tastes. I'm going to have to try it now!

MaryJane, you all were so busy! Everything looks so wonderful, especially your roses! I love that orange color. I only have purple, so an orange color would be lovely. I'm happy to hear you got everything saved from the snow and cold. We are expecting some big freezes here too. Seems like the cold came out of nowhere. Your dinner looks delicious! I hope it was very tasty.

Krista
nndairy Posted - Sep 30 2019 : 10:14:11 AM
Winnie - I never thought to add the blackberry topping to my pie, but I think it would have been a bit too much with the pumpkin. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'll keep an eye out for that new apple!

MaryJane - My mouth is still watering over your pear picture! Pears are my favorite. I'm not sure where the box came from that I bought (the Mennonite family has them shipped in from somewhere in a big crate then boxes them) but, they were not even half the size of yours! You'll have to let us know how the pumpkin pie turns out. It sounds delicious!

Off to have another piece of pie before hubby eats it all LOL!

~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month


"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
Red Tractor Girl Posted - Sep 30 2019 : 07:30:48 AM
Lastly, I wanted to share with you news from an article about a new apple that MaryJane shared with me. Washington State University began a process in 1994 to "build a better apple" that would hold up for storage, shipping, as well as have a wonderful taste. The New York times recently wrote an article about all of the details. Known as the Apple of the Year, the Cosmic Crisp will ship some 18 million of these new apples in December to markets. They are a beautiful red apple and are said to be juicy, crisp and delicious. If they show up in your grocery this year, will you report back here and let us know how you found them to be? This new variety is said to be a great solution for Washington state growers but who knows, it might be successful in other states close by.

How about that, Farmgirls!! For our Apple Pie Festival at MJF 2019, news came of a brand new Apple that might just be a nations new favorite!! I sure hope some trickle down to Florida so I can try them out. You can bet I will buy some and report back to here. Who doesn't want to taste an apple called the Apple of the Year??? If I can figure out how to post a photo or the article link, I will do so, but in the meantime, be on the look out for COSMIC CRISP!!

Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018
Red Tractor Girl Posted - Sep 30 2019 : 07:13:26 AM
MaryJane, I saw on weather.com about the coming snow in your area and wondered if you were forecast to be hit directly. What a salvation of the garden you and the family pulled off!!!! Your apple recipes all look delicious and I bet Apple Pie Sunday was a feast to remember. Meg's apple gazpacho sounds very different and I bet it was good too. That is the thing about Apples. You can create to your heart's content and almost never make a losing dish. It also looks like the Butters /Ogle pantry is full of lots of produce to keep the meals healthy and delicious until next season. I love the way all the apples look lined up and settling into their new digs for the duration. The little darlin's!

You have to try out a slice pumpkin meat pie filler as suggested above and let us know. Me things you are on to something very special with your honey as sweetener. Wow, it all makes my mouth water just imagining eating a slice.

Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018
Red Tractor Girl Posted - Sep 30 2019 : 07:03:47 AM
I am late getting my post up for our celebration of Apple Pie Sunday. First we were in Ireland until last Wednesday and then had to leave for the beach on Friday only to return Sunday afternoon. So, being full of jet lag still and exhaustion from too much on the go, I settled for a small traditional apple pie, which I can make from memory. I used Cortland apples this year that were in the grocery from upper state New York. Cortland apples are one of the many pie apples because they are part of a group of apples called, Acid-Tannin varieties. What this means is that they have a good balance of acid, tannin, and sugar to withhold the baking process. Cortlands also require much less sugar and hold up their shape so the pie filling isn't all mushy.

The part that made this traditional apple pie exceptional for our Apple Pie Sunday was the addition of Heather Nipper's Wild Blackberry Ice cream topper sauce. Heather and I decided to exchange canned goods we made this summer and this blackberry topping arrived just in time. We added a couple of spoonfuls over each slice of warm pie and it was DELICIOUS!!!! Oh my, what a wonderful addition to a piece of pie. Thank-you Heather for this perfect surprise for our Apple Pie Sunday celebration!!

Here is my little "pie for Two" for our Apple Pie Sunday.

.
'
This pie makes enough for each of us to have two nice size slices of pie which is perfect for just the two of us. I got this little pie pan from Longaberger years ago when I was a home consultant. Now that it is just hubby and me, I use it all the time when I make a dessert so that we are not left with an entire pie to eat ourselves. Looking forward to eating the last two slices this evening with more of Heather's Blackberry topping!

Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018
windypines Posted - Sep 30 2019 : 02:04:49 AM
The pies and desserts all look lovely. I did not manage to get a pie backed, but I did do applesauce. Seeing how the fireside variety worked for sauce. It is delicious. today i hope to make a pie and see how they bake down. I will bet peeling some for the freezer too.

Farming in WI

Michele

Farmgirl of the Month 6-19
Blessed in Colorado Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 5:35:09 PM
It all looks so yummy! I am sorry I don’t like pie:-)

Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Colorado
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012 and February2018
“My altars are My Mountains
and the ocean.” Lord Byron”
Women are Angels, and
when someone breaks our wings we simply continue to fly on our Broomsticks. We’re flexible like that.
MaryJane Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 5:11:11 PM
Heather, that looks mighty good.

MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
MaryJane Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 5:10:14 PM
I wonder what an entire pie of thinly sliced pumpkin would taste like? Hmmmm. Butter, honey, and pumpkin pie spices but with a top crust. I think I'll try it.

Our crisps are in the oven, the girls helping me (they worked the peeler/slicer) while mom and dad schucked corn and got started on dinner.



"Pa" (hubby Nick) showed up with what will be our last picking of raspberries, just in time for us to add a layer on top of the apples. Given we woke up to snow this morning, it's truly been an apple Crisp Sunday.



Onions, bell peppers, and corn for a gazpacho kinda dinner along with chicken and apples.





MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
nndairy Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 5:10:12 PM






I never had it before either Sara, but it was amazing!

I sure hope others joined in the apple pie Sunday celebration.

~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month


"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
YellowRose Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 09:52:57 AM
Heather, I haven't had pumpkin apple pie but it does sound tasty - maybe it'll be next year's pie.

My pie is out of the oven and I had a slice with cheddar cheese for lunch and that's all I had. Will eat my veggies later.

Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019

Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.

nndairy Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 09:30:40 AM
What a harvest!!!!

My pie is in the oven. I made a pumpkin apple pie. Pictures to follow......(when it's done of course)

~Heather
Farmgirl Sister #4701
September 2014 Farmgirl of the Month


"The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment" - Yogi teabag
MaryJane Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 08:18:24 AM
Good morning Sara, I think it's the smell of an apple pie baking that gets me the most, especially wonderful on a chilly day. Enjoy.

MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
YellowRose Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 08:06:22 AM
Good morning MaryJane, your garden bounty is beautiful. I have all my apple pie ingredients on the counter - now to get it done.

Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019

Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.

MaryJane Posted - Sep 29 2019 : 07:54:51 AM
Today is Apple Pie Sunday and we woke up to ... snow. I don't think we had a frost last year until well into October, so yeah, the end of our outside bounty came early this year. On Friday and yesterday, we scrambled like crazy to bring in the bounty from our garden and orchard. It was all hands on deck (hubby, me, daughter Meg, hubby Lucas, and daughters Stella and Mia), but we got 'er done just as it was getting dark.

We now have trays and trays of produce inside (pumpkins, watermelons, butternut squash, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, pears, apples, plums, and cantaloupe) filling every nook and cranny. I also rescued the last of my roses.



But you can't let a little snow mess with Apple Pie Sunday! We're going to make apple crisp today (with a few pears thrown in) and Meg wants to try making gazpacho with apples instead of tomatoes. And of course a pie with a yummy buttery crust, my favorite, eaten with some cheese.

Just look at the size of our Asian pears this year. I filled one of our fridges with a tree's worth. They'll keep well into February. As I was picking them I realized there wasn't a single one with a worm hole. Good year for pears!



And apples. We picked bushels of apples also.





Butternut.



And tomatoes.



Huge onions again this fall. This variety, Redwing, kept in our pump house until we started getting onions again in our garden, so they keep until July.



I needed to get warm (it poured rain all day) so I played around with some bouquets. These pumpkin-colored roses are called Strike It Rich and Rosie the Riveter.



Watermelon Salsa ingredients.



Pumpkin prettiness.



Also, as part of my prep for today, I gathered together a sampling of our apple varieties to send to Winnie tomorrow (I couldn't help tossing in a potato, an onion, and a few pears.) Thank you Winnie for your love of apples and the idea behind our special day today. (I'm sending 4 apples from our rescued Mascot "Duchess of Oldenburg" tree--it was loaded this year.)





Happy Apple Pie Sunday to you and yours!

MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
Cissik Posted - Sep 16 2019 : 2:23:22 PM
Did my apple butter in the Instant Pot. You core the apples and quarter them, knife any bad spots and throw them in the pot with 1/4 cup water. Once cooked, use an immersion blender and you have very thick applesauce, smooth as you like. then add your sweetener and spices. You can use the Saute setting to cook longer. I love how thick my was so only used Saute for 5 mins. Easy, delicious apple butter, and it's all mine. No one in the family likes it.I used Manual, High pressure 20 mins. Allow time to raise pressure and the do the Natural Release. All together I spent 3 hours doing this batch. Used my own Gala apples.

Sylvia
Kent, WA
Farm Girl #5389
Back Door Farm Girls Chapter
https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecopperedsea
http://vintagegathering.blogspot.com
Love The People God Gave You Because He Will Need Them Back Someday.
laurzgot Posted - Sep 09 2019 : 6:54:43 PM
Wow Winnie I had a wonderful surprise in the mail today. Thank you so much for all of the apple goodies. The bag, the handmade kitchen towel, the potpourri,apple pie spice,the hot pad your are so talented Winnie. The candies I love tea is my favorite too. The dish is so cute along with the apple shaped notepaper the candle smells wonderful And I will bake up some of your apple chedder bread and use my homemade applesauce that I canned. Thank you so much Winnie. Will enjoy everything.

Hugs,
Laurie
Country girl at heart
"Smile and be yourself everyday."




Red Tractor Girl Posted - Sep 09 2019 : 10:34:51 AM
Sylvia, there is nothing more beautiful than jars of apple pie filling just waiting to fill a pie crust up and pop into the oven!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about your apple butter and pie filling at your kitchen. Enjoy!!!

Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015
FGOTM- October 2018
YellowRose Posted - Sep 09 2019 : 05:09:33 AM
Sylvia I've never made apple pie filling to can - may put it on my to-can list.



Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019

Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.

Cissik Posted - Sep 06 2019 : 10:33:01 AM
Oh my Sara, what a delightful meal you had! I have been making apple pie fillings like crazy. Can hardly wait for pie day. Meanwhile I’ll eat apple butter.

Sylvia
Kent, WA
Farm Girl #5389
Back Door Farm Girls Chapter
https://www.etsy.com/shop/thecopperedsea
http://vintagegathering.blogspot.com
Love The People God Gave You Because He Will Need Them Back Someday.
YellowRose Posted - Sep 06 2019 : 06:39:36 AM
Denise, I want to find a recipe so I can make the sauce. Never made caramel before but I'm willing to give it a try.

Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019

Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.

levisgrammy Posted - Sep 06 2019 : 06:07:04 AM
Sara,
That sounds yummy! See everyone is in an apple state of mind! Even the restaurants. So glad apples are getting their just due! Usually it is pumpkin spice. LOL

~Denise
Sister #43~1/18/2007

"Home is where we find comfort, security, memories, friendship, hospitality, and above all, family. It is the place that deserves our commitment and loyalty." William J. Bennett

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105

http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
YellowRose Posted - Sep 04 2019 : 10:37:00 AM
For you who can't wait for Apple Pie Sunday to get your apple fix I suggest you go to Denny's and have their Vanilla custard crepe with apple walnut bourbon sauce. What a treat. I had it for brunch today along with eggs, hash browns, and sausage. Crepe was included with breakfast but it can be ordered a la carte. Plate licking good - but I didn't.

Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015. & Feb 2019

Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.

levisgrammy Posted - Aug 27 2019 : 11:39:32 AM
I have never made the slab pie Debbie but it sounds good. I think instead of my dad's apple cake I will make my Deep Dish Apple pie. Everyone here loves it!

~Denise
Sister #43~1/18/2007

"Home is where we find comfort, security, memories, friendship, hospitality, and above all, family. It is the place that deserves our commitment and loyalty." William J. Bennett

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105

http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
debbieklann Posted - Aug 27 2019 : 08:16:35 AM
This will be fun! I found a new recipe that I'm hoping to make this week called an Apple Slab Pie. It's made in a large rimmed cookie sheet instead of a pie plate and has an all butter crust, which I have never made before...always use shortening. It looks delicious! I will post a photo when I get it finished.

Debbie Klann
Farmgirl Sister #770
2018 Farmgirl of the Year

"Well behaved women seldom make history"....Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Snitz Forums 2000 Go To Top Of Page