Some Are Ready

this one pictured is a Haralerd Apple. I also have a Honeycrisp. it did not even bloom this year though. But researching online I found that that can happen ever so often where one blossoms and the other won't. Just an oddity of nature with the bees and butterflies pollination habits. Add that recipe here please for Apple Butter Apple Pie please? HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

Saved this. Thanks bunches. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

Here you go! You can cheat and use a store bought pie crust, but the crust recipe is there too. Apple Butter Apple Pie Ingredients * Pie Dough: * 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour * 1/4 teaspoon salt * 2 tablespoons sugar * 12 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed * 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, cold * 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup ice water * Pie Filling: * 8 cups Granny Smith Apples; cored, peeled and sliced into 1/4" slices * 1/2 cup apple butter * 2 tablespoons lemon juice * 3/4 cups sugar * 7 tablespoons all purpose flour * 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves * 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces * Egg Wash: * 1 large egg yolk, beaten with 2 tablespoons milk Steps For Pie Dough: Preheat oven for 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt and sugar. Add the shortening and break it up with your hands until it is fully coated with the flour. Add the cold butter cubes and work it into the flour with a fork or a pastry cutter. Work it quickly, so the butter doesn't get too soft. Add the ice water, a little at a time, until the mixture comes together forming a dough. Bring the dough together into a ball. Divide the pie dough into two pieces so that one piece is slightly larger than the other. Flatten the pieces into two disks and wrap each disk in plastic. Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. For Filling: In a large mixing bowl, toss the apple slices with the lemon juice and apple butter. In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cinnamon and cloves. Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the apples and stir thoroughly. Set aside while rolling out the dough. Roll out the larger piece of dough and use it to line a 10" pie pan. Spoon the fruit into the pie shell. It will be a tall mound. Dot the top of the filling with the butter pieces. Roll out the remaining piece of dough and drape it over the fruit, covering the pie. Trim and crimp the edges. Cut a few slits in the top of the pie to allow steam to escape while the pie is baking. Decorate the pie however you like with any remaining pieces of dough. Brush the pie with the egg wash mixture. Set the pie on a sheet pan and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to bake until it has browned and the fruit is bubbling around the edges (approximately 30-35 minutes). Cool 30 minutes before serving.

I am looking at getting a Bosc Pear tree or any variety that is winter hardy for Minnesota. I love fresh pears a lot. I can't grow peaches here due to harsh winters. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

Could you please share the recipe for applesauce? I love it and have no idea how to make it. Thanks in advance. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

What exactly is a hot water bath? Do I need a special pan etc? HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

Applesauce is one of those - in my head things. I'm pretty sure a bushel of apples will produce around 14-15 quarts (I always shot for 14, 2 batches in the waterbath) any extra just gets eaten within a day or two :) Peel and core apples - unless you have one of those neat griders like my ex-mother-in-law had that seperates the peel from the apple, it has come up missing since she passed away and my ex can't figure out where it would have gone as he got all her kitchen and canning supplies plus his mother and I were the only ones in the family who ever used it :( Anyway, I peel them now then use my neat little apple corer which takes out the core and slices them at the same time. Peeling is the most time consuming part but I just set in front of the tv and do it putting the apples in a large pot of slightly salted water while waiting for the next step. Next put all the apples in a pot and cook them slowly, stirring so they don't stick until soft. I like chucky so just use the potatoe masher on them until the consistancy I want. If you are using sweet apples you don't need to add any sugar but if they are sour I like to add a little but not too much. I also add cinnamon - this I just do to taste so no help there. When my MIL and I did applesauce we would get 2 or 3 different kinds of apples and mix them, make it extra special but lots of times like this year I'll be using mostly one kind and a few off another smaller tree. If canning - Once the apples are cooked just put in sterle canning jars and cap like you do canning anything else. Last step is process in hot water bath for 15-20 minutes and that's it. With 4 kids I've always used quart jars but you can use pints if you want.

yeah I saw a couple of your discussions about your issues etc. Hope things are getting better. At least a little better would be an improvement. yeah there has been a few leaving. I couldn't do that as I love this place. But others had their issues with others and that caused their departures. Thanks bunches also. Seems a lot here would miss me and my photos greatly if I were to vacate these premises. HAHAHAHA! I've never baked a pie either. Hahaha! HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

Thanks so much for the nice words. The issues you mentioned remain unresolved, and I'm not sure what's going to happen next. It's been 'really something' to say the least. As for our kitty, she's so much better now, and we're very thankful for this. The only thing is, she doesn't eat as she should now, and really has to be coaxed. I'm so happy to hear that you've got no intention of leaving 'here.' I find your discussions a joy to read, even if I don't get the chance to respond to all of them. I'm so glad I've gotten to know you, and do hope our friendship here will continue. I really thought that you're a pie baker. I must be thinking of somebody else. By the way, I'm really looking forward to hearing the wonderful news, about your new grand daughter, when the time comes.

There are a few orchards around for this puirpoase as well. Also some have cider mills where you can watch the fresh picked apples being turned into apple cider. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

I love Mangoes and wished they would survive the harsh winters. But, alas I have to eat them at my wifes work or buy them at a store. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~