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August 24, 2012 20 Comments

Food on Fridays: Homegrown Apples

For the Food on Fridays carnival, any post remotely related to food is welcome—though we love to try new dishes, your post doesn’t have to be a recipe. We’re pretty relaxed over here, and stories and photos are as welcome as menus and recipes. When your Food on Fridays contribution is ready, just grab the button to include with your post. It ties us together visually. Then fill in the boxes of this linky tool to join the fun!

Food on Fridays with Ann

Last week I missed posting Food on Fridays. Leaving no story, no linky, no explanation of any kind, I simply fell silent.

Well, I broke my blog.

I couldn’t access my WordPress dashboard, so I was unable to publish anything at all—not even a brief explanation of my silence—leaving you stranded. Please accept my apologies and know that I was doing all I could to sort it out. After poking around on my own, I gave up. I called WordPress specialist Chris Cree, who has transferred annkroeker. writer. to EmmanuelPress.com. Thanks to his expertise behind the scenes, I am up and running again. (And, backed by EmmanuelPress tech support, I won’t be able to break anything.)

I’m so happy, I wanted to bake a cake or something and welcome you back with a party, but we’ll go the healthy route instead as I share with you my late-summer backyard surprise.

We planted two tiny apple trees last year—Fuji and Honeycrisp—in hopes of enjoying a tiny crop of fruit this fall. These trees are so slim and twiggy, they look like long marshmallow roasting sticks. Nevertheless, in April these slender stalks exploded with spring blossoms bursting open with promise.

Many of the blossoms evolved into round fruit that we watched, dreaming of a generous crop. Then, a spring freeze destroyed all of the fruit on the Fuji and most of the fruit on the Honeycrisp.

This summer we marveled as the surviving Honeycrisps plumped up and matured. Just last week, we harvested the apples—all four of them—from that one stalwart tree.

I brought them in and set them on the counter. “Let’s cut up one to share,” I proposed. My daughter was bouncing with anticipation. I was grinning like a kid as I sliced it in half. Then quarters. I cut out the seeds and then reduced them to slivers. We counted them up and divided by six.

“Prepare yourself,” I warned, “because it might not be ripe. I don’t know if they’re ready, so it could be tart if I picked them too soon.”

She nodded, and we lifted them in the air and tapped the slices together like wine glasses for a toast. “Here’s to homegrown apples!” I proposed.

“Here, here!” my daughter shouted.

Then we each took a small bite of our slices, faces pinched as we prepared for a burst of tart.

Sweetness. Our faces relaxed into the sugary sensation that spread through our mouths, surprising our taste buds.

“It’s so sweet!” I exclaimed.

“And crisp!” my daughter added.

We ran through the house to the other kids and their dad, holding out their portions. “Try this!” we said. One by one, they delighted in the realization that our tiny little trees produced such a delicious treat.

In our own back yard. Apples. Sweet, crisp, edible apples.

* * * * *

Photos by Ann Kroeker. “Pin” these images in a way that links back to this particular page, giving proper credit.

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Filed Under: Food on Fridays

Comments

  1. Alea Milham says

    August 24, 2012 at 11:48 am

    I might break my blog this weekend. I have decided to write a short post and leave a message on my Facebook Page letting people know my intentions. 🙂 I’m glad you were able to get everything resolved!

    My apple tree is so full the branches are almost touching the ground. I can’t wait to harvest them all and start working with fresh homegrown apples again!

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 24, 2012 at 2:20 pm

      Oh, you have some changes taking place? Good idea to warn people of that possibility in advance!

      What a picture of abundance: of an apple tree’s branches almost touching the ground. Sounds beautiful. Full.

      Reply
  2. Hazel Moon says

    August 24, 2012 at 12:12 pm

    I am so happy you are up and running. Our apples did not do well this year. Perhaps it was the weather or not enough water. Apple Betty (or apple crisp) is our favorite way to have apples for desert. No crust, just apples and a topping of 2/3 cup flour 2/3 cup quick oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cube butter, mixed and crumbled on top of the sliced apples you have placed in an oblong baking dish. bake 45 minutes at 350

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 24, 2012 at 2:21 pm

      Hazel, I was downright lonely when I couldn’t pop in and interact with you and everyone else! Love your Apple Betty dessert–I’m on my way to the store in a few minutes and will pick up the extra apples for this. Making it tonight!

      Reply
  3. Megan Willome says

    August 24, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    So glad you’re back! I missed your blog when it was down.

    Look at you–a real harvest! And a sweet one at that.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 24, 2012 at 2:21 pm

      I didn’t realize how much I missed blogging until I couldn’t do it!

      I’m glad I have other avenues to interact with people. And the harvest? It’s certainly modest, but oh, so sweet!

      Reply
  4. Hazel Moon says

    August 24, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    Hi again, I entered (Last week’s story) as a second entry. Hope by now everyone realizes you are up and running!

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 24, 2012 at 2:25 pm

      I’m trying to pop around and visit some of the people who have linked up in the past weeks, but I guess it takes a while to earn back trust!

      Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 24, 2012 at 2:26 pm

      And I love that defrosting story–glad you linked it!

      Reply
  5. Elisa says

    August 24, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    So glad your blog is working again, and thanks for visiting mine. I was hoping you would be back so I could link up, and now I have.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 24, 2012 at 3:42 pm

      Yay! So nice to see you here, Elisa!

      Reply
  6. Darcy Wiley says

    August 24, 2012 at 9:24 pm

    I’m living vicariously through your fruit tree success. A squirrel or some other vandal peeled ALL the branches off my baby pear tree last spring. Trying to get the guts to try again (maybe a family apple tree this time) but need to research how to critter-proof it first.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 25, 2012 at 10:55 am

      Hmmmmm…..squirrel-like critters can get up and over and around and through almost anything. Maybe there’s a spray that would discourage them? I have a big dog in the back yard. Maybe he’s keeping them away?

      Reply
  7. Diana Trautwein says

    August 24, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    So nice to see you here again. And I love those apples. We have a big old tree full of Granny Smiths every fall – love it. They make the best applesauce. Hmmm….maybe we should look into planting a Honeycrisp – they’re one of my favorites.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 25, 2012 at 10:44 am

      The Honeycrisps lived up to their name! I’d love any kind of tree, though, from Granny Smiths to Jonagold, doesn’t matter. They all have their place–like you say, for applesauce or Apple Betty, every apple can nourish.

      How fun to have a mature tree. One day, in 20 years, ours will be full of apples, too, I hope!

      Reply
  8. April @ The 21st Century Housewife says

    August 25, 2012 at 9:45 am

    I’m so glad you are back, Ann! I’ve linked up my post, but as I’m away from my desk I haven’t included a link back yet (I’m borrowing my husband’s laptop so I can’t access my site). I will update the post to include a link back as soon as I can.

    I am so happy that your apple tree produced such gorgeous fruit. A small harvest is always extra special, especially when it is such a delicious one!

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      August 25, 2012 at 10:43 am

      You are always such an encouragement–I visit your site and wish I could leave a comment to let you know how much I appreciate you.

      Reply
      • April @ The 21st Century Housewife says

        August 27, 2012 at 7:11 am

        Thank you so much, Ann! What a lovely compliment!

        It may not be too long until you can leave comments on my site. I am (finally!) having my site re-designed, and hopefully in a few months the new look will all be up and running!

        Reply
        • annkroeker says

          August 27, 2012 at 7:28 am

          How exciting!

          Reply
  9. Ann Kroeker says

    August 26, 2012 at 5:55 pm

    Thank you for linking your amazing recipes week after week!

    Reply

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