Savoring the Season: Apricot Bounty and More

Preserving season is in full swing in my little area of the world!  I’m in need of taking a brief break from it myself WHEW!!

Last month we were overjoyed to discover the cherry tree was producing a wonderful crop.

I froze a bunch of quart sized bags, tried Fresh Cherry Pie, my new favorite Cherry Pudding Cake and a not so favorite clafouti. We had so many cherries I went out and got a Cherry Pitter which really helped speed up the pitting process. Grandson Luke was excited about tasting Cherry Pie so I promised him a Fresh Cherry Pie. My sweetheart and I headed to Idaho for a few days with a housewarming gift of the promised Fresh Cherry Pie. It was a delight to see how excited he was that it was there in the their new home. 

 

I also enjoyed a break here and there watching a few youtube videos that showed some very creative ways to pit cherries! 

  

   

  

I started out tackling July's harvest.by throwing together a quick batch of Apricot syrup for my sweet grandnephews who came to visit. It was a simple mash of a few cups of apricots and a bit of sugar cooked in a pot on the stove long enough to bring out all the juices. We all enjoyed it sooo much!  It was Yum...These past couple of weeks have been crazy busy with apricots  ripening and dropping faster than my sweetheart can keep up with them... I decided we better pull out some recipe ideas... Apricot Leather, pie, Apricot Pudding Cake... The first batch of leather was amazing.The boys liked it so much they took home all but a few strips :) Next I grabbed my Apricot Jam recipe and got busy. Before too long those apricots were ripening FAST so I began freezing quart bags in between jam batches and a few random desserts. As the apricots increased ripening and dropping at the beginning of August I was trying the various recipes to use as much as I could of my yummy apricots.  

I also called in the troops- my friend Maieli and her granddaughter Amber came to pick some apricots and we decided to turn them in to jam here at the Ferrier Chalet.

Sweetheart Tom and I continued to work on the apricots since what I have learned from past years was that next year we may have a zero harvest so enjoy it now.  

So what is next? Apples, and did I mention the plums?

Well it looks like it is time to jump back in with both feet...As the weeks have progressed, the apricot trees have thinned out but a quick look at our property and I note it is time to get set to tackle plums, tomatoes, apples, herbs, and maybe some neighboring peaches too. 

Creative Dilemma and a Solution

For those of us who so-oo need to create, perhaps you can relate to my dilemma. I have been busy in the kitchen for days making apple butter, apple pies, videoing the process and generally having a giant mess in my kitchen (which is also my office space).  It has been fun and the resulting products have been enjoyed by my family but to tell you the truth I was sick to death of the sticky floors, counters and canning paraphernalia setting about. I was so-oo due for no mess!


A few years back I discovered another wonderful creative outlet but this creative outlet made a mess in a very confined area, my hard drive on my computer. I found the Digital World! In case you are just discovering the world of digital scrapbooking or haven't yet discoverd it ...here is the “condensed” version :) Digi scrapping is basically the same thing as paper scrapping...only you create your layouts on your computer using software. The software varies...from the simple to the super complex...and from the inexpensive to the very expensive.Today is a digital day, yea...no cleanup mess!!

So what have I been up to?? Ok...I'm getting to that :)


I have been offering bags of apples to my friends and since my friend Greta requested my Apple Butter recipe I wanted to make it "pretty" for her. Before I show the recipe card off though I owe a "Thank You" to Shabby Princess for the great designs from their digital collection called  "HOLIDAY RECIPE COLLECTION". 

So my secret Apple Butter recipe is out...If you decide to vary the recipe in any way you may discover what makes this recipe so special.

Happy Cooking~Happy Eating~Happy Creating!

Autumn, Sundays and Family Dinner

Carol's Apple Pie

Carol's Apple Pie, a peek inside...


When we first moved to Utah my sister Colli lived just around the corner from us. We started a tradition then of getting together for dinner. My sister Kathi also lives in Utah and although she lives the other side of the Oquirrh Mountains from me we also try to get together as often as possible. For my sister Kathi it is most often for celebrations. Several years ago Colli moved out of state so for today's dinner it was myself, nephew Mikeal and my husband for dinner.




Mike has recently begun a love affair with meatloaf. A few months ago I taught him how to make it and since then he likes to have it at least every other week. I planned to make it for dinner today after we took a drive up to through the canyon.




I look forward to taking time away to enjoy the Fall Leaves, it is my favorite season and a favorite way to enjoy the day. The days here in Utah are a bit crisp but sunny and the air smells simply wonderful...pines, oak, maples all mixed together with wet leaves.




Oreo, Tom and I drove up toward the Timpanogas and headed on a road past Tibble Reservoir. Before long it turned into a gravel road. We drove until the road narrowed. The mountains in the distance have snow capping them, the air is a bit colder. We hop out of the truck and begin our hike up the side of the mountain. Oreo keeps speeding ahead on the trail, he enjoys being in lead. I've snapped a few hundred photos today along with some video footage of the area. I hope to scrapbook some of thes pictures later, I'm sure we'll have a few good pictures! I sure love days like this.




We had a wonderful surprise when we got back to the house, Mike had just finished making meatloaf for us! I had planned to make my homemade apple pie tonight too so we had quite a dinner...Yum.