Apple Picking! Take the kids apple picking as a unique, fall birthday outing. Then return to the house to enjoy other apple activities!
Call:
Honey Pot Orchards: 978-562-5666
Carver Hill Orchards: 978-897-6117
Shellburne Farm: 978-897-9287
As a great activity and to replace a goody bag, set out a caramel apple “bar”. At the beginning, place popsicle sticks and melted caramel. Then set out shallow bowls of each topping. At the end have a cookie tray set out to put apples on. Write their name next to their apple. Wrap in cellophane before the kids leave and send them home.
Your basic fabulous Caramel Apple
Melt caramel slowly in a double boiler (as you could your Merckens chocolate).
Use McIntosh or orchard fresh apples for caramel dipping. Pierce with Popsicle stick into core, then swirl in melted caramel, roll in whatever toppings desired (see recipes below), place on wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Must be refrigerated for at least one hour. To speed the process, place in freezer for half the time.
Super spiced up Caramel Apples
*Snap-Cracke-N-Crunch: Dip in caramel, then roll in rice crispies bits, then drizzle with melted milk chocolate.
*S’more, Please: Dip in caramel, then crushed Graham crackers and mini marshmallows. Drizzle in milk chocolate.
*Englishman: Dip in caramel, then roll in toffee bits, and drizzle with milk or dark chocolate if desired.
*Sprinkle Circus: Dip in caramel, roll in rainbow jimmies, then drizzle with white chocolate.
*Big Kahuna: Dip in caramel, roll in shredded coconut and/or crushed macadamia nuts. Drizzle with white chocolate.
*** Roll in crushed macadamias, peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, chocolate jimmies, malt bits, and anything else your heart desires!!!
Spiced Apple Cider
Serve in a punch bowl. For decoration, pierce an apple with cloves in a pattern and float in punch.
1 gallon naturally sweet apple cider
1 cup brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1 tbsp. Whole cloves
1 tbsp. Whole allspice
½ tsp. Mace (optional)
Tie cinnamon, cloves, allspice and mace together in a coffee filter tied to a string. Combine cider and brown sugar in a large pot. Add spices. Bring mixture to a slow boil. Then turn heat down and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove spice bag from pot. Spiced Apple Cider may be kept warm in a crock-pot (slow cooker) on low setting. Yield 18 servings.
Vanilla Cider Shake
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1 quart naturally sweet apple cider
4-6 scoops vanilla ice cream (optional)
Freshly ground nutmeg
Let a pint of vanilla ice cream soften at room temperature. Put ice cream and cider into a blender and blend until frothy and well mixed. Stir in nutmeg. Pour into tall glasses and top with a scoop of ice cream, if desired. Sprinkle nutmeg on top. Yield 6 one-cup servings.
Small children can’t participate in some of the activities?
Check out:
http://www.bestapples.com
Easy Applesauce Cake
¼ cup sugar
1 2/3 cup applesauce
2 tsp. Cinnamon
3 eggs
1 (17 oz.) pkg. Yellow cake mix
Blend sugar and cinnamon. Grease 10-inch bunt or tube pan and dust with about 1 tbsp. of sugar/cinnamon mixture Blend cake mix, applesauce and eggs until moistened. Beat as directed on package. Reserve 1 ½ cup of batter and pour remaining batter into pan. Sprinkle with remaining sugar/cinnamon mixture; then top with reserved batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until done. Cool 15 minutes top side up, then invert on serving plate.
