simple pleasures on the farm

yes we still have apples to pick!

mutsu, empire and red delicious apples are available this weekend. 

you will also find a handful of many other varieties.

we have oodles of pumpkins too!

what a short and sweet week! literally!
i made candied apple slices. 

 i intended to use them as a garnish on some kind of lovely autumn cake,
but somehow, garnishing a cocktail seemed way more fun!

easy recipe… easier to enjoy!

you will need a few apples- i used empires.

super fine sugar 

preheat oven to 350˚

thinly slice apples 

press them in some fine sugar covering both sides and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet

bake for 15 minutes

turn and bake for another 10 minutes.

carefully remove them and place on a clean sheet of parchment paper to become hard.

mine never completely hardened. i made them on a rainy day...too humid perhaps?

i have enjoyed these all week in yoghurt,

 in a bowl of steel cut oats, and just to snack on. 

i call this drink a harvest mule
i just love how the candied apple looks like a heart! 

we are spoiled rotten to have fresh apples and fresh cider available all autumn. 

and i have a big healthy pot of rosemary,

 bought from our local amazing market “the prince of whales country market.”

1/3 cup apple cider

1/3 cup ginger beer (which incidentally has no alcohol)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 ounce of vodka

a lemon slice to garnish

rosemary sprigs to garnish

fresh cranberries to garnish

candied apple slices to garnish 

2 tablespoons of coarse brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of flaked salt to rim the glass 

combine the sugar and salt on a plate

rub the lemon around the rim of a pretty glass, then dip in the sugar and salt. 

pour in the cider, ginger beer, lemon juice and vodka.

garnish with the lemon slice, rosemary, cranberries, 
and a couple of candied apple slices.

you could use a fresh slice of apple in the cocktail too. 

i didn't use ice. wouldn't it be fun to make cubes out of cider?

did you know we have fresh apple cider for you?

we are pressing the last batch of the season today. 

it is a gorgeous late harvest blend. 

it freezes beautifully.

pour a little out (it expands when it freezes)

make yourself and a friend a drink…then freeze it.  

its lovely to watch autumn play on the farm.…

so many gradual transformations. 

cheers and warm hugs,

laura

carl laidlaw orchards