Wednesday, August 14, 2013
My Apple Tree
There is a very old variety apple tree on our place. It is one of the historic varieties that only bears fruit every other year. This year we have a bumper crop. The apples are especially good sized because we pruned away about 1/3of the tree in order to make way for our landscaping renovations. The deer have been coming around and eating every apple that falls off the tree. A fox spent about 20 minutes eating apples under the tree recently, also. Two years ago, our tree attracted a black bear that was later shot and killed by a neighbor (much to my dismay). I figured this year I would retrieve at least a few of this year's crop......
I am not sure what to do with them, though. Some years I have made applesauce, but we are not really very big fans of it. These are large enough to warrant peeling for a pie, but again, we are not really eating desserts except for special occasions. I tried juicing them and the result was a rather tart but fairly bland beverage and a really big mess in the kitchen afterward......hmmmmm. I have been told these are Transparents, which I looked up. A Russian apple, dating back around 1850, give or take.
Sliced with a mandolin and dried to a sweet crunchiness would be my choice.
ReplyDeleteYes, I was thinking of apple slices in the dehydrator, also (don't have a mandolin). My grandson loves dried apples and I do think I may try it. These apples might be very good that way. Will let you know how they turn out.
ReplyDeleteWe have an apple tree and every year make a supply of chutney - great to have on a cheese sandwich, or with a curry dish. Many combinations with other fruit/vegetables are possible.
ReplyDeleteI dry apples and other fruit and we use it to put in our porridge every morning.
ReplyDelete