How To Preserve Apples From Our Family Trip to the Orchard

We go to the apple orchard and preserve the apples every year, and have done so since our children were toddlers. There are so many money traps, but today I will tell you how to make the “traps” beneficial. Don’t get me wrong, when we go it is fun, but if you really want to save buy apples from the store. For a family fall bucket list trip there are ways’ to enjoy the fall activity, spend money, but also put it to good use.

Going to the apple orchard where we live is one of the highlights we look forward to this time of year. An overall ambiance of trees’ changing their colors, and usually a briskness in the air. This year it was dry and hot. We have had no rain. Viewing the peaceful transition of nature from summer to fall is one I never want to miss. The leaves change into vibrant red, orange and yellow colors. Not for us, it was a hot day and no leaves had changed.

One thing did change, and that was they offer chestnut picking and hazelnuts. In addition to this they also have a farm store with very fresh vegetables to enjoy. Lots and lots of jam, apple cider and bbq sauce. So many different varieties of apples were available it was hard for us to pick. I did grab some vegetables from the farm store while my husband and children sat to enjoy apple cider slushes.

Again, I want to impress on you it is a hot day. So while they sat and enjoyed a cold beverage I was shopping the store that had no air conditioning and carrying very heavy vegetables. My mind immediately went to how I could make the best of some of the prices and still enjoy the orchard. The kids’ would want some apple cider, that was a must. Another thing was the jam. Nothing like fresh made jam. In my mind I decided that my grocery budget for the week would be spent at the farm stand. All of our meals would include some of the fresh vegetables I was getting. Next, I looked up a few easy apple recipes and came up with apple butter, applesauce, apples to snack on, and finally a dessert such as apple dumplings or pie.

Apple Butter for Canning

Apple butter is a good go to dessert. First it is a substitute for jam. Second, it is great on biscuits, hot biscuits. Third, apple butter is easy to make. I have plenty of canning supplies so this recipe was a must to make. Apple butter is a good way to preserve apples.

Applesauce for Winter

In addition to the apple butter was applesauce. I don’t want to buy the store brand because it is full of sugar, so that is one reason that I placed applesauce on the list. This is a staple in a lot of homes’ where moms’ do canning. I have heard through the grapevine about homemade applesauce, and that is easy to preserve apples. Personally, this will be my first time attempting it.

Everyday Snack Apples

Apples for a snack is a favorite of my boys’. All of them love a cut apple into slices. One of them loves apples so much that I have to cut him off after 2. If I don’t then he would get a belly ache. As we visited the apple orchard, I knew that each child would want a bag of their own so I kind of broke the recipe list down this way. Snack apples are not a good way to preserve apples, but they do create a healthy snack.

My second son was getting apples good for applesauce, my third son was getting apples for the applesauce and dumplings, and my fourth son was getting apples for our everyday snack apples and the apple butter. This helped to keep the varieties separate.

Apple Dumplings for Dinner

Apple dumplings make a great dinner. They are delicious, easy to make and nutritional due to the apple. I have made these a time or two in years’ past and the kids eat every bite.

Picking Hazelnuts and Chestnuts

First let me say that I had no idea that chestnuts has such prickly shells. It was very difficult to get them out due to the prickly texture. We did pick several that will go great for winter and our chestnut pie for Thanksgiving. Hazelnuts are new to me, and quite honestly I think I will add them to the homestead. Such an easy nut to pick and the tree is very interesting.

All of the items that I purchased were fairly priced. We did get lots of apples to can, vegetables to eat, vegetable to freeze, chestnuts and hazelnuts, and plenty of memories. if you are thinking of activities to add to your fall bucket list definitely add the orchard to the top! You will not regret it.

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