Almost gone !

This is what I have left.  I think I might hold out and make a pie for Thanksgiving.  We will see.  I already made the crust it's in the freezer so I can do this anytime.  What fun it is to smell all of that cooking in your kitchen but it's not so good on the waist line so that is why I thought I would hold off a little.
     It's cooler weather and I love it.  I know, I'm sure I will be complaining in another month about it.  We really are never satisfied.  Tootles

Apple Orchard Pictures

 Is this not the most adorable home.  Don't you just want to go inside, make a fire, put the kettle on for tea and grab a blanket and a good book and curl up.  Oh, how I like the thought of that. 
     The smell in the air is pine at it's best.  You just automatically take a deep breath the minute you get out of your car.  The air is cool and crisp and you are so glad you decided to come.  I looked all around me and there are several building that you can tell have been there for a long time.  The boards are very wide and very dark.  It's almost like you have gone back in time to a much simpler life.  A time we all would like to experience.  That friendly neighborhood that helped each other and always knew just what you needed, even before you knew.  Don't you just love this yard.  Give me this any day.  Who wants the manicured yard that no one is to step in.  This is simple and charming.

 This is the other side of the home.  I didn't tell you the name of this farm or I should say Orchard........Noble Orchards, Jim and Laurie Noble at 7050 Pentz Road in Paradise, CA.  As we were leaving they put in our hand and said,  "Hope you can join us for our  Harvest Party Celebration our 89th Season, Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 form 2-7pm. 

     Can you imagine 89 years.  Boy, the stories that house and barn could tell.  It's a great place to go especially to take the kids and let them see what a farm, orchard looks like.  It's not showy, or fancy.  Like I said yesterday it's the real deal and I am so glad I ask the right questions and a fellow swimmer let me in on the nugget in Paradise.

Just look at this barn.  Now I wish I would have taken more pictures for you.  Hey, I just might have to go up there again and when I do, I will take a lot more pictures and share. 
     Enjoy, and I hope you are thinking about those apple pies you need to make for the Holidays.  You can always make some now just to get in practice for Thanksgiving and Hey, Christmas is just around the corner.
     I wonder if I can find the chocolate farm.  Can you imagine an orchard of chocolate drops hanging on the tree.  Maybe.  It could happen.  I just might be the one to go looking for it.  Ha!  Tootles

Happy Sunday to all of you !

     I have enjoyed this week-end.  First Saturday morning .....Well, I should start Friday morning.  I got a big tip from one of my fellow swimmers, at "In Motion Fitness".  We were talking about food, as usual and she told me about how she makes apple butter in her slow cooker (you know, the crock pot, why they thought they had to rename it, I will never know).  Well, I wanted to go do it right then. You know how that is, you do not want to wait for anybody, anytime or anything but I had no apples.  The great thing was she told me about this really cute farm (if a farm could really be called cute, that is), it's up in Paradise, CA.  Yes it is a real town and has it ever grown since I was a teen, I guess so as it's almost 50 years, any who, this place is the real deal.  We found it off Pentz Rd.  You drive in the driveway and it's a little one lane road which goes beside a rock house.  There is parking in the front yard which we decide to take because we have never been there before.  We start walking down the one lane and can see a barn which is open at this end.  There are shelves, and boxes and boxes of apples.  Many, many kinds.  Also they are selling Olive Oil that is local and some sauces.  I pick up the Olive Oil and get black berry sauce.  We are moseying (hey, we are on a farm) over where one lady is giving slices of apples to try.  Jim and I do so and after the granny smith, red delicious, she gives us gala.....wow that was real good.  We buy half a bushel, they smell wonderful.  Off we go with our loot and head for home.  Then Saturday morning I get up slice apples, slice apples, and then slice apples.  I made one big apple pie with a crumb topping, 5 small pies.  I had no more pie plates so just used the crust.  Rolled out the dough in a circle, added the apples in center with sugar and spices on and lapped the dough around them in a circle.  Hey, it worked fine.  I think that is how I am going to make them from now on.  Before all of this I put about 15 apples, sliced in the crock pot and 11 or so hours later I had apple butter.  I couldn't finish the apple butter on Sat as our electricity went out so just halted the crock pot and started it up again on Sunday Morning.  Let me tell you it is wonderful.  Here is all you do.......
     Peel and slice about 15 apples, add to crock pot.  Mix 3 to 4 cups of sugar (depending on apple sweetness), 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Stir.  Put crock pot on high for 1 hour, then stir and put on low for 11 to 12 hours.  Then the last hour leave lid off and stir with wire wisk to mash up apples.  I used a potato masher.  It will have become dark and thick and that is just what you want.  Put in sterilized jars, leave 1/2 an inch from top, place lids on and waalaa your done.  Apple butter is great over vanilla ice cream, add to pancake mix (about 1/2 cup) serve with pork chops.  Just use it like you would jam.  Believe me you will think of things yourself, it's delicious.  Tootles