Apples Bring People Together

BY BECKY BARNETT

Whether its harvesting, baking, or eating: apples are a tool to bring people together. At least that’s how I see it. There’s something special about gathering in the kitchen and baking together, or having good conversation over a slice of apple pie. Some of my favorite memories have been made in the kitchen; rolling pie dough, slicing, peeling, mixing, measuring, and talking about life with my mom, sister, and Meemaw. Harvesting apples each fall is a family tradition I keep with my husband and kids. Orchards are beautiful places to visit, the air hangs heavy with sweetness, between rows of trees laden with brilliant fruit.

Since it’s apple season, we are sharing a few of our favorite apple recipes; in the hope that you might be inspired to rally some loved ones and get baking! It’s the perfect time for chatting about end of the year plans, reflecting on holidays gone by, and enjoying a few moments of intentional gratitude for the simple things in life.

If you are in search of wonderful apples, may I point you to Heckman’s Orchards, located in Effort. The above photo was taken at their abundantly stocked farm market. They also host pick your own apple weekends in mid fall.

Why not gather a crew and frolic through the orchards to collect the freshest apples? Then, head home to bake them into delicious, shareable goodies! It will be a fall day to remember.

Quick and Simple Apple Crisp

Ingredients: 5 cups sliced and peeled apples 3 tablespoons granulated sugar ½ cup oats ½ cup packed brown sugar ¼ cup flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ cup butter

Instructions: Mix apples and granulated sugar gently together. Pour into two quart baking dish. In a medium bowl combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, and spices. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping over fruit. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until fruit is tender and crumb topping is golden brown. Serve warm and topped with vanilla ice cream!

PHOTO CREDIT: BECKY BARNETT

Ingredients: 2 cups water 1 ¼ cups sugar 2 teaspoon cinnamon ¼ cup butter 2 cups flour ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions: Begin with the sauce, in a medium saucepan combine water, the 1 ¼ cups sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add ¼ cup butter, mix and set aside. In a medium bowl combine the flour and salt, cut in shortening until mixture consist of pea-size pieces. Add half and half or milk one tablespoon at a time, tossing mixture with a fork, until all the dough is moistened. Form dough into a ball and roll out on a lightly floured surface into a 18x12 inch rectangle. Cut into 6 equal squares. In a small bowl stir together the remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 4 tablespoons sugar. Set aside. Peel and core the apples. Place an apple on each pastry square. Sprinkle top and center with cinnamon/sugar mixture and dot with butter. Fold the corners of pastry dough together, wrapping the apple inside. Pinch seams to seal. Place dumplings in a 13x9x2 baking dish. Reheat sauce to boiling and pour over dumplings. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees about one hour or until apples are tender and pastry is golden. Serve warm with sauce spooned over dumpling.

½ cup shortening ½ cup half and half or whole milk 3 tablespoons sugar 6 small cooking apples 1 tablespoon butter

Great Grandma Jennie’s Apple Cream Pie

Ingredients: ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup flour 1 pint heavy whipping cream Cinnamon 4 medium apples (peeled and halved?

Instructions: Mix sugar and flour together. Add full pint of whipping cream, mix and pour into unbaked pie shell with 8 apple halves in the bottom. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower temperature to 350 and continue baking 30-40 minutes.