How to use your fresh picked apples!
Just before the end of the summer, our family made an early visit to the local Cullipher Farms u-pick apple fields. Like everything else, the boys made it a competition and went a bit overboard! So because they picked more apples than we could simply consume, we got creative and used them in various ways I am sharing in this blog. So let your kiddos loose on the apple fields and try some of these simple treats!
Apple Pie Crumble
Just your all American apple pie dressed up with a brown sugar and butter crumble and decorative leaf cutouts. I am am big fan of nutmeg alongside cinnamon in my apple pie.
Spiced Apple Cider Martini:
Ingredients:
3oz Fresh Squeeze Apple Juice
3oz Spiced Dark Rum
2oz RumChata Cream Liqueur
Brown Sugar
Directions:
Shake over ice and pour into your favorite martini glass rimmed with brown sugar. Feel free to up the spices and sprinkle cinnamon and/or nutmeg on top. Delish!
Stovetop Hot Toddy:
Ingredients:
Fresh Squeeze Apple Juice
Brandy (I prefer over whiskey)
Spiced Brown Rum
Honey
Orange Slices (I prefer over lemons)
Fresh Cranberries
Whole Cloves
Cinnamon Sticks
Directions:
Place ingredients in a dutch oven on the stove and warm to infuse flavors. Enjoy in your favorite mug once at desired temperature and taste. Try the cranberries!
Homemade Apple Sauce:
None of the sugar or preservatives -- just pureed apples and cinnamon for both the boys and baby girl to enjoy. We use our Vitamix to puree and stored in individual glass jars. In the fall, I personally like my apple sauce warm, so I pop in the microwave before serving. Enjoy!
Caramel Dipped Apples:
A fall season classic! We simply unwrapped a few caramel candies and placed them on low heat in a sauce pan with a little milk until melted and ready for the kiddos to dip. I chose to pour into a bowl so the boys were not reaching into a hot sauce pan. Next time we plan to roll in crushed nuts for extra crunch. YUM!
Apple Stamp Kids Craft:
Supplies
I cut these out for handmade teachers' cards from the boys!
Quick Tips:
The hot toddy can be made with no alcohol for the kiddos to enjoy too. You can just spike your own glass!
If your apple sauce batch is large, it can be frozen in freezer-safe bags and used at a later date.
You will need a juicer and a blender able to puree to make the fresh juice and sauce a possibility. But if you don't have those appliances at home, fresh apple juice is readily available in the fall.
If your kids are feeling spooky, swap the red paint for orange and they can make pumpkins. Give them a black marker to draw jack-o-lantern faces!
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