Today was just what fall in New England should look like! It was beautifully sunny and just brisk enough to want a light sweater. I call it “sweater weather,” and every year I am ready for it. The knowledge that winter looms around the next corner, kind of puts a damper on fall for me. But other than that, I just love this time of year!
This afternoon we headed to Honey Pot Hills Orchard in Stow, MA. I had been there before several years ago, but I don’t remember it being quite the operation that it is now! I would be curious to know how many people come through there on a typical day. Today was packed! But it kind of added to the excitement. We have gone apple picking together every year and it is a tradition I really look forward to.
One of the things I remembered about this orchard was that you are allowed to climb ladders into the trees. I have been to other orchards with big signs that tell you to keep off the trees. But since I’m a big kid (and my sweetie is an even bigger kid!), we like to climb trees! The best apples are at the top too…
We came home with a 23 pound bag of apples (we weighed it on the scale when we got home)! I have one baking in the oven right now and am so excited to eat it. It was a labor of love because I do not own an apple corer and I almost lost a finger or 2 trying to cut out the core.
I will not be sharing this beauty! Dave ate 4 apples at the orchard and is not feeling so well right now. I am cutting him off!
We made a couple other stops today as well on the way to the farm. I am almost done collecting data for my statistics project on the farming methods of local farms. But I need a few more to make the results statistically significant (look at me throwing around statistics terms!). We stopped off at Verrill Farms in Concord which just reopened it’s main store after it was destroyed last fall in a fire. What a beautiful new building…and brimming with a bounty of fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, and jellies.
I collected my data there, and then we stopped at another little farm (it was actually called Small Farm!) we passed on the way tot he orchard. It was so cute, we pulled over and picked up some corn.
It was really that small!
I came home and studied statistics for a little while (percentiles, z scores, and box plots, oh my!). But I was distracted by my excitement for dinner. I read Nicole’s blog this morning and knew I needed to recreate the quinoa dish she mad. Not only do I love quinoa, but there is so much you can do with it! I had never thought to put ricotta cheese in it. Thanks, Nicole!
I made mine with an Italian twist…ricotta, artichoke hearts, spinach, diced tomato, garlic and Italian seasoning. I also through in some butternut squash because I needed to use it up. I will probably leave that out next time, as it didn’t really fit with the rest of the ingredients…but it didn’t matter, this was goooood! I topped it with some parmesan cheese.
Not the greatest photograph, but trust me, it was delicious! I can smell my baked apple and I can’t wait to eat it, so off I go!
My brother is coming up tomorrow afternoon to spend the night and to tutor me in biology. if you don’t see me tomorrow, it’s just because I have my nose in a book or two!
Do you have a favorite fall tradition?
My fall tradition is going to haunted houses! I love them. They’re cheesy and fun. What’s not to love?
Dave looks like he’s way up high in that tree! Yikes!
Enjoy your baked apple. You deserve it after a week of gluten confusion and studying. Good luck tomorrow with your brother!
Good call on Nicole’s quinoa recipe! That’s a fantastic, gluten-free dish 🙂
Like you, this is my favorite time of year. As a child we always went and picked pumpkins, then came home and carved them, you know, the normal stuff. Then we always cooked the pumpkin seeds, which was always fun. My favorite part about fall is the food, the colors, and the crisp weather. I’d love to go apples picking, and we actually have a farm about an hour away, which we should visit before fall is over.
Have a great night, on this wonderful fall day 🙂
Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! And thanks for stopping by!
That looks like sooo much fun! Chris and I went to an apple orchard near his brother’s house on our first road trip together. It was so neat, I just love going to places like that. The apple in the oven looks wonderful and cinnamon-y, yum!!
icky statistics, I’m taking that next semester 🙂 I love quinoa too, it’s so versatile and cooks super quick.
I love quinoa too – will need to check out the recipe!
I also love apple picking – Matt and I were hoping to go yesterday but the weather wasn’t so great – hopefully another weekend….