Winter 2011/2012?

Well, it sure hasn't felt like winter in South East Lower Michigan has it? Alex has been busy pruning the trees, making cider and still selling apples and cider at the market on Saturdays. If you get the chance to come down, stop in and say hi. Agnes has been knitting hats for the newest great grand babies! We have so much to be thankful for!

Saturday at the Market!

My husband Steve selling apples at the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market Saturday, October 9th. Thanks to Riley T. Farm from Real Time Farms for the photo!

CIDER!

It's time for cider! Aaah cider. Not just any old cider, not that nasty pasturized stuff. Raw, unpasturized cider! The kind that goes hard after a week and a half in the fridge! (not that it ever lasts that long). Last year I posted my recipe for hot mulled cider. Fresh apple cider lends a nice tangy-sweet flavor to pork roast. Below you'll find a recipe I like to make. If you have a favorite recipe using cider, feel free to post it! We'd love to know what creative things you do with it!

Pork Roast with Sweet Onions, Apples and Cider

1 T cooking oil
1 large pork roast
1 medium Vidalia onion, sliced
1 C apple cider
1/2 C water
1 clove of garlic, chopped
2 medium Cortland apples (or your favorite cooking apple) peeled and sliced
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a dutch oven, heat oil. Add Onions and saute until they are soft, add garlic. Meanwhile generously salt and pepper the pork roast. Place roast in the pan and brown on all sides. Once nicely browned, add cider, water and apples. Simmer over low to medium heat for one hour adding more water as necessary.

Serve with mashed potatoes and butternut squash for a really great comfort food dinner!

It's Time!

I recently saw this quote by some obscure centuries-ago person (no doubt a millionaire) "Every Millionaire Loves a Baked Apple". Well, we are certianly not millionaires, but I guess we can all EAT like one then! And, it's time for the apples we all love to cook with again! This Saturday on the market table will be Cortlands, McIntosh, and my personal favorite ~ GALA! You know, I love this apple so much I started calling my dad's barn cat Gala. She was as sweet as one for sure.

It's also time for grapes! The other day, my kids and I went for a ride through the orchard. We turned the corner from our house and headed toward the big hill that leads to the grapes. We could SMELL them before we could even see them! I wish I could describe the smell to you. It was a combination of summer, sunshine, grass and, well... grapes! Even more I wish I could have bottled that smell for dreary winter days that are ahead of us all, or for any time I just need a pick me up. Of course I took the above picture a few weeks ago, they are all deep purple now. YUM!

a day at the market

Here are some photos taken today at the market!

Melons!

Canteloupe or Muskmelon whatever you call it, it's delicious! How do you like to eat your sweet juicy fruit? Here are a few ideas for what to do with melon...

Freeze a few melon chunks and drop it into your water, tea, or grown-up beverage instead of ice

Fruit Kebabs! Kids love ANYTHING on a stick. Skewer melon chunks and grapes on skewers or lolipop sticks.

Halve a melon, scoop out the "guts" in the center, and fill with frozen yogurt

Eat it straight up or with a little salt. (don't make that face!) Salt draws out the juice of the melon and enhances it's sweetness!

Paula Reds!

It is almost August, and the first apples of the season are coming on! Paula Red apples are a crisp, juicy, tart apple that is great for baking, or if you enjoy a tart apple they are good for eating as well. This apple is great with cheese, in a salad, or baked into a muffin or dessert. It's also great smothered in Maitelates dulce de leche! The following is a recipe for a great summertime salad!

One bunch of leafy greens of your choice... mild greens are best
One Paula red apple, cored and diced
1/4 cup dried Michigan cherries
1/4 candied pecans
bottled poppyseed dressing (my favorite is a brand called Brianna's)

A slice of good hearty bread and your'e all set! If you want to make this salad into a meal, toss in some grilled chicken or turkey slices! Fast, fresh and healthy!