Precious Delights Part III - Apples

Unfortunately, we are one apple tree down this year.  We aren't sure what happened, but it just fell over.  But my red apple tree on the other hand, has treated us well.  Apples are very abundant, falling on the ground, feeding me, my neighbors, the rabbits, the deer, and even the butterflies and the bees.  One of my cousins came and picked a five gallon bucket to take home and make apple butter.  She also grabbed a bag full of bruised apples to take to feed her chickens.  I am so glad that I have been able to supply apples for so many different species! At least they all didn't go to waste.  I have a couple more trees that will be ready soon, in which I am hopefully going to make some apple butter.  My front apple tree didn't do so well this year.  I think the beetles must have eaten most of the blooms, because there weren't many apples at all.

I went out one day to get just enough apples to fry for our dinner.  The rain from the night before had prepared the apples their own little home on the ground, washing up enough dirt around them to keep them from rolling.   I just couldn't resist a photo.  Just another example of the beauty of nature, taking care of its own relatives...

I brought the apples around front and sat them on the picnic table to photograph them as the first apples from my trees in 2012.  I didn't realize until after the photo was taken, that I had an uninvited guest on top of the red apple! I told him he didn't have to go home, but he couldn't go inside with me!


When I got the apples inside, I placed them all in the window seal in my utility room.  Leela decided to inspect them, since they were in her spot at the window.  I guess she allowed them to stay, because she never harmed them. After a few sniffs and biffs, she simply made room for her tiny little paws to keep her balance, and then laid down beside them.

All of these precious stories...all because a seed went underground.  I have never enjoyed the small things in life this much. It is such a beautiful scene to watch, the crops growing day by day.  And then the best part is that we get to indulge when it is time to harvest.  Talk about organic and local?? It's all right here in my yard baby...and all it cost me was my time.

Our "Lil" Peach Tree--Part 3 & Other Updates

Our Lil Peach Tree, April 3, 2012.

This tree just never ceases to amaze me.  It's little dark brown or black looking branches just never stop giving.  It has gone from buds to blooms, and now to these beautiful bright green leaves.  We have been lucky to have rain and fair temperatures lately.  Hopefully this trend will continue throughout the summer, especially the hot days and cool nights, which is what will produce my favorite sweet juicy peaches!  Stay tuned!
 

Refreshed Grapevines.

 It is so nice to see these severely pruned grapevines showing some green!  They have bled a good amount, but I think they are going to produce this year!  Spring has been so good to us, and I hope it continues. There are also some tiny bunches of grapes (pictured right) starting to form here and there. 

My Favorite Apple Tree. 

All I can say when I look at this picture is WOW!  Can you believe that every little bloom could possibly produce an apple if pollinated?? That's a lot of apples!  Actually, this is the apple tree that produces the largest amounts of apples in the summer, with its branches hanging full, all of the way to the ground.  As I was photographing this beauty, I couldn't help but noticing the sweet aroma that the blooms were giving off, reminding me of sweet, sweet honeysuckle. The honey bees and yellow jackets were in love with it just as much as I was--there were bunches and bunches of them, at least one on every other bloom, just a pollinating away, creating a pleasant buzzzz and hmmmmm.  Hopefully this is a great sign of what the future holds for this tree.  Last year, with the apples from this tree, I made my bubbly summer apple triple crust cobbler, fried apples, and homemade apple sauce.  But the options are endless I guess, so we'll just have to see what the future holds...

Blackberries & Raspberries.

This year I branched out (ha ha) a little bit and planted Thornless blackberries and Brandywine raspberries, neither of which have I planted before.  Growing up we had plenty of wild blackberries, which won't compare to the nice juicy ones that planted ones can produce.  These are somewhat of an experiment, and I am willing to accept the challenge!

Brandywine Raspberry

Thornless Blackberry

Well, that's all folks!  Stay tuned for more updates, and maybe some even recipes when these tasty treats are ready to come off the vines!

Spring Is In the Air, & Everywhere!

Spring is (almost) here!  I say that lightly, because here in North Carolina, it has been a very mild winter, allowing for an early Spring, and I could not be happier!  The trees are budding...and you know what that means?!?!  It means the fruits of our trees and plants will be here very soon!

So, during the first week of March, I ventured out of the cupboard and looked for the first signs of Spring.  To my surprise, I found my lilies popping above ground.  My outside cat, Amber, was rolling in the warm sun, watching the birds.  And last but certainly not least, I found the cherry, peach, and crabapple trees with tiny innocent little blooms!  What a nice surprise!  Guess it's time to start cleaning out the flower beds!   

Bubbly Summer Apple Triple Crust Cobbler

The refreshing yet warm, country smell of apple cobbler reminds me of Fall, only a little bit early...cinnamon, brown sugar, and of course, the crisp yellow apples.  

To me, the best thing about a cobbler is the crust.  If you agree, you would love, love, love this!  It has a soft bottom crust, a crisp top crust, and an extra crispy crust drizzled over the top before baking.

This extra crispy, thin crust is what makes this cobbler delish.  Made of equal parts brown sugar and butter, and a little flour, it gives the apples a caramel kiss of flavor.  You can almost eat it like a cookie, sopping up all of the melted ice cream and applesauce that has left its mark on your plate.

The second best part has to be the home grown apples.  They are the bigger and better this year, the best I have seen in the 8 years I have lived here. I am still unsure what type of apples they are, other than a gracious, soft, yellow apple, not too sweet, and not too tart.  They seem a little mealy, but nothing a little cooking can't fix!

And last but not least, the cobbler must be eaten warm with a nice scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, slowly melting down the sides.  After this scoop of vanilla, I just might have to switch to the butter pecan...hmmmmm.

The end product is a warm, thick, and bubbly cobbler, with a cool, creamy melting ice cream, tart summer apples, and lots of homemade love in my tummy!

Delights from My Garden--Part 1

German Johnsons are going to be here soon!

Wow! I have quite a few delightful treats in my garden this year!

First and foremost, the German Johnson tomatoes...I can't wait...and the Marion heirlooms right beside them.  I can't wait to fight for that tangy juice from the bottom of the bowl, to be able to make a sloppy sammich with just salt and pepper, or to simply eat one like an apple...dirt and all.

 There's also quite a few different varieties and colors of summer apples-red, green, and yellow.  It is such a joy to watch them grow and mature into a tasty morsel...whether eaten raw, in a cobbler, cooked to perfection in a cast iron frying pan, or pureed into homemade applesauce.  Nothing better than shaking the tree to have them fall from up above...like pennies from heaven.

Apples in the morning dew

Apples from 1 of about 8 trees in my yard

 Last year I had all of 1 peach from my tree.  I distinctly remember my mom trying to tell me that there was a ripe peach on my tree.  I didn't believe her...it had been very dry, and none of the trees had produced anything all year. But sure enough, there it was, a beautiful piece of art. I carefully plucked the single peach off the tree.  As I bit into it, I realized it was the freshest,  sweetest, juiciest, peach I have ever put in my mouth...too bad it was the only one :(.

...gonna eat alota peaches." 

"Movin to the country...

So this year I have 2 trees hanging full of 'lil peaches, and I am hoping that we are granted with enough sky juice to once again produce these flavorful, ripe, fuzzy  peaches.

 ...yes Juli, I remember the 6 hour tour...with all the peaches!