Apples | Harvest | Recipe Ideas | Processing Equipment

There is nothing like fall and the sweet smell of fresh apples ready for the harvesting. Sometimes it is just fun the break out into some new things to do with apples, especially as a home orchard becomes a bit overwhelming with more apples than a family can use.

So apples don’t go to waste, the fallen ground pick apples make the best apple cider. Every home orchard should have some way to chop and press these apples into cider.

Homemade canned apple sauce is something that can be used throughout the year. The Victorio Food/Tomato Strainer is one gadget that will quickly turn a pot of cooked apples into apple sauce for canning in a jiffy.

Any remaining seeds and pulp are pushed out of the strainer end while the sauce is poured into a pan on the side.

To make dried apples, the secret is keeping the slices uniform in size and thickness. The old time apple peeler is the best device that we have found to prepare apples for drying. It peels, cores, and slices uniform thickness.

The apple will come off the end of the slicer in a spiral, simply cut in half and have perfect sized slices for the food dehydrator.

Another new product from the Amish is a Fry Pie Maker, it is a table top hand crank appliance where you lay a square of rolled pie dough across the dies, add your fruit fillings and crank out a perfect formed and sealed pie pocket ready to be deep fried.

This little machine will also make meat pies that can be baked instead of fried.

The pictures of the apple processing equipment is courtesy of Cottage Craft Works .com

These are an assortment of easy recipes to try different things with a fall apple harvest. Recipes are from Amish cookbooks courtesy of Cottage Craft Works .com

Fresh Apple Cake

½ c. Margarine

1c. brown sugar

1 egg

1-1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. soda

¼ tsp. salt

2 c. peeled, chopped or shredded apples

Topping

¼” c. brown sugar

1 tbs. melted butter or margarine

¼ c. chopped nuts

Cream together margarine and sugar, add egg. Sift together flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Add to cream mixture. Fold in apples. Pour into a greased 9 X 9 pan. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle on top. Bake 350° for 30-35 minutes or until done.

Recipe from Cooking with the Horse & Buggy People II

Apple Fritters

1c. flour

3 T. white sugar

1-1/2 t. baking powder

¼ t. salt

½ c. milk

2 or 3 apples, sliced

Mix first four ingredients. Add milk and egg. Last add apples. Drop in hot oil by spoonfuls until browned. Dip in pancake syrup.

Recipe from Wooden Spoon Wedding Sampler Amish Cookbook

Dutch oven apples

½ c. butter

¾ c. brown sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. salt

¾ c apple juice

1 Tbsp. vinegar

3 c. apple slices

4 Tbsp. cornstarch

1/3 c. apple juice

Melt butter in an 8” Dutch oven. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt; stir until smooth. Mix in the ¾ cup apple juice, vinegar and apple slices. Cook until apples are soft. Thicken with cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 cup apple juice. Serve warm. Apples are also good with pancakes. Top with whipped cream.

Recipe from Outdoor Cooking cookbook

No Sugar Apple Pie

1 cup Raisins

4 cups sliced apples

3 Tbsp. minute tapioca

1/3 cup water

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. salt

1 pie crust

Cook raisins in ½ cup water for 5 minutes. Blend raisins, mix with apples. Add tapioca, water, cinnamon, and salt. Pour into pie crust. Bake 10 minutes at 425°, then 30-35 minutes at 350°

Recipe from Healthy Choices Cookbook from Keepers at Home magazine readers.

Apple Salad

2 qt. Shredded apples

½ cup raisins

Nuts (optional)

½ cup cream, whipped

¼ cup peanut butter

1/3 cup maple syrup or honey

Whip the cream, mix peanut butter with maple syrup or honey, and mix with whipped cream. Toss together apples, raisins, nuts, and whipped cream. Mix until covered.

Recipe from Healthy Choices Cookbook from Keepers at Home magazine readers.