| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| lisamarie508 |
Posted - Sep 15 2008 : 7:10:39 PM
I couldn't find the thread that we discussed what went wrong in canning apples and apple pie filling so I'm starting it over. I took all your advice and left more head room and it worked like a charm.
I realized while pouring the apple slices in the jar what I did wrong last year. I had put the apples in the jars and then added the juice. As the apples floated to the top I kept adding more juice, thinking they needed to be covered by juice and left probably only a half inch. This time, I kept that in mind and left an inch. They look beautiful. I'll have many, many easy apple pies over the coming year AND I won't have to look for apples with flavor in the dead of winter/spring.
Thanks, girls!
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| deeredawn |
Posted - Sep 25 2008 : 1:50:42 PM
Yep. Love my apple thingie! Yesterday I made: 4 apple pies, 10 quarts of applesauce, 24 apple dumplin's, and I have a slew of 'em in the dehydrator for my homemade granola. Today, I have not TOUCHED an apple!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens/Mother Hen
http://heirloommavens.blogspot.com
http://harvestthymefarm.blogspot.com
"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
| Montrose Girl |
Posted - Sep 24 2008 : 3:30:36 PM
Oh, I can't wait. 1 1/2 more weeks til I'm home and head to the farmers market. I just bought my apple trees so I have a few to go before I starting getting enough of my own, but I can by them by the box at the market and they are so yummyyyyyyyY!!! I love my corer and I have a sieve too for the apple sauce. (wiping droll now)
Best Growing |
| lisamarie508 |
Posted - Sep 24 2008 : 1:52:40 PM
Yes, Alee, you can make your own with a large coffee can and broomstick. However, the one sold in catalogs is twice as long as a broomstick! But it's still 2 poles held together with a metal tube and screws. The best part about the catalog picker is that it has these "teeth" on the top of the basket that grabs the apple off the branch.
Belle, maybe your trees need some pruning in the spring and/or fertilizer? In previous years, mine didn't produce much and what it did produce was really small. I decided overcrowding and excessive branch growth was the problem. This spring we cut a LOT of old and overcrowded branches out (it seemed really severe) and I got more apples than I needed this year and most of the apples were pretty good sized. The severe pruning encouraged a LOT of new growth this year and I can see that I will probably be pruning it every spring from now on.
Dawn, you don't sound at all stupid. I got one at Rose's yard sale last year at the end of the season. This year was the first time I used it and boy howdy! Did that thing make it a breeze. I had only a corer that cut the apple into eighths before which meant I still had to peel and slice them. This peeler/corer/slicer made it go so much faster. I love it! And you get a little exercise in the process!
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
| Contrary Wife |
Posted - Sep 24 2008 : 12:10:23 PM
The peeler/corers are the best! My DH and I used to put up four and five dozens qts of appleslices for pies when we had a tree in our yard. We're going to go get apples the middle of Oct. I can't wait, I love the smell of a couple of bushel of apples sitting in the kitchen, it just smells like autumn!
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
| deeredawn |
Posted - Sep 24 2008 : 11:53:57 AM
Speaking of apples.... I'm not trying to sound stupid here, but I JUST bought myself one of those apple slicer corer peeler thingies. What a God Send! I just did, and I am not kidding 1.5 bushels of apples by HAND. Yep, peeled, sliced and cored all those puppies the hard way. I will forever be in debt to whomever designed this little piece of heaven! No more carpal tunnel! YAY!
Dawn #279
MJ's Heirloom Mavens/Mother Hen
http://heirloommavens.blogspot.com
http://harvestthymefarm.blogspot.com
"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
| Bellepepper |
Posted - Sep 24 2008 : 11:47:02 AM
Lisa, I have been trying to use a fish net that I use in my water garden. It don't work well. I got a Stark Bros catalog just yesterday. They have the "real" picker thing for $20. I think I'll order one. Been going to do that for years but have not had enough apples to pick for many seasons. I am afraid if I buy one, I'll not have a good crop to use it on next year. |
| Alee |
Posted - Sep 24 2008 : 09:09:07 AM
Lisa- Or you can make your own with a coffee can and a broom stick!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| lisamarie508 |
Posted - Sep 24 2008 : 07:09:39 AM
Belle, I'm afraid to climb ladders and I use an apple picker which is a wire basket mounted on the end of a long pole and I had NO problem reaching the top of the tree! I love that little device. You can find them in seed catalogs for $15-$20.
Jennifer, I LOVE honeycrisp apples. I've been thinking about planting one of those in my yard next year.
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
| JenniferJuniper |
Posted - Sep 23 2008 : 3:13:05 PM
I was the oozing apple woman! Thans for the post, I am going apple picking tomorrow, Honeycrisp are in season and i hope for better reuults.
Farmgirl Sister #204 |
| Bellepepper |
Posted - Sep 16 2008 : 06:15:51 AM
Lisa, I am going to start making my pie filling today. I have put it off for days now. I think I was waiting for someone to come help. I picked another 5 gal bucket yesterday. Next time I pick I'll have to get the ladder. I am not a ladder person but the apples in the top of the tree look sooo good. I'll remember to leave plenty of head room when I add my juice. |
