It’s September 11th. I am not going to go into a long story about the anniversary today. I’ll simply stop, and say thank you to so many who served my city, and my country, on that day, and the days that followed.
On to happier subjects. Zippity doo-dah happy. Michael Fassbender shirtless, and serving me wine happy.
Yesterday, I took my ittybits APPLE PICKING. It wasn’t too hot. It wasn’t raining, or tornadoing (new word-use it.) It was the perfect, early fall, breezy cool day. The orchard smelled of ripened fruit and cider, and neither one of my babes smelled like the public bathrooms in Times Sq. It was a good day. Before you tell me your children never smell like that, I am telling you you’re a big fat liar liar pants on fire. Firepants.
Whenever we go apple picking, the Captain takes off at a dead run to the orchards. He leaps between the rows like some sort of primate. He gives my “other imaginary, shirtless, wine server”, Oscar Pistorius, a run for his money. He finds all the best low-hanging fruit; not unlike the Bravo network or TLC. Just like Bravo and TLC, when he’s devoured all the good bits, he leaves behind only the sad, and rotten core.
He may or may not have had FIVE apples since we went picking. Every apple he’s eaten, he’s declared “THIS IS THE BEST ONE I’VE EVER HAD!” He asked me to bring 2 apples at pre-k pickup time. He wanted to bring one for his teacher. He wants me to make apple pancakes. This kid is apple crazy. Thank the gods, because we picked a BUSHEL. That’s the equivalent of roughly a fricken shit ton of apples. It’s a very precise measurement.
Let me tell you something else about apple picking…it’s hard damn work. We walked FIVE miles in and about the orchards, carrying kids, apples, cameras, the weight of our ineptitude…Whoa. Steinbeck was right to portray the Joads as farmers. I cannot imagine more back-breaking work. It makes me seethe when I think of $.89/lb fruit. The labor is worth SO MUCH MORE. I did nothing more than pick the damn fruit, and I was starving and beat by the time I was done.
Seriously, the next time you complain about $2.49/lb honeycrisp, go pick a few bushels. You’ll shut up pretty dang quick.
This is happening.
That didn’t stop me from baking with my fresh apples at midnight.
There are a LOT of festivals, harvest parties, Chinese Moon Harvest parties, and Rosh Hashanah parties coming up. The cop and I tend to get invited to about 1111887474 of these. Bringing something apple or pumpkin just seems “right” to me for these things.
Last night I tested and LOVED a new apple recipe. It is PERFECTION for any of the aforementioned parties. Apple honey cake made with homemade applesauce, coconut oil, and whole wheat flour. Could you die?
Apple Honey Cake
Apple Honey Cake
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 1 hour
Keywords: bake bread snack dessert kosher vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2- 1 cup raw sugar (depending on preference)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 cup chunky applesauce (I made homemade)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp clove
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp mace
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan.
whip together oil, eggs, sugar, honey and applesauce
add in vanilla extract
sift in dry ingredients, folding gently.
bake for 55-65 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
Don’t forget my apple bitch!!!
That looks amazing! And what a fun memory with your family! Thanks for sharing!
I used to go apple picking with my mom when I was a kid. I miss it, but you’re right, it’s a lot of work. I can’t imagine having to do it as a job.
I love all the things that can be made with apples… I make this terribly fattening apple pie, it was my mom’s recipe. It’s usually gone in a day or two. LOL!
Ugh. Want.
picking apples is on my fall bucket list! and this recipe would be perfect for it. i’m so pinning it! thank you!