All signs show a bumper crop of apples this year; every tree I have seen is loaded. The question is not where can I get them but how many do I want which of course begs the question: what am I going to do with them? I don’t know enough about different apple varieties so have given up trying to select those that will maintain structure through the canning process. As an alternative, I am just freezing sliced apples for pies so they are only cooked once and structure is maintained in the pie. I have also discovered we don’t eat enough applesauce to justify canning it so I am freezing the cooked apples left from making the juice for apple jelly. It includes the skins which I add to yogurt, protein shakes and in making applesauce bread. It would also be good in pancakes, waffles and muffins. So now instead of all those jars of applesauce on my pantry shelf, I have a freezer full of applesauce containers. Best I can say for myself is that it was…less work! Problem is I was supposed to clear out the freezer while Paul was gone but instead it is fuller now than when he left five weeks ago. Whoops! I guess we will be transporting a cooler full of frozen foods back to Flagstaff this year; bring on the dry ice!
I love to make Spiced Apple Jelly and made about 20 jars this year. I still have a handful of jars from last year so could probably skip making jelly next year but I don’t seem to be able to say no when my friend calls to say the apples are ready for picking. I’ve experimented with apple chutneys, apple preserves and apple butter but they all seem fairly similar so not worth the effort. Next year I am going to get the food dryer out again to see if it will dry the apples enough to store without spoilage; last time I tried the thing ran for 24 hours and the apples never got dry enough. I’ve been moving a package of puff pastry around in my freezer for a while so baked them and will fill them with apple-blueberry compote for tonight’s dinner guests. Yum! I want to make the delicious frosted apple bars I remember from childhood but then it will just be me and the apple bars in the night so I think I will skip it. Anyway, happy apple picking!