Bring on the Apples!

It is apple season and I don’t know about y’all but this is something we love to do. Okay, when I say we I mean me but that is beside the point totally. After all, I make others go with me whenever I go. This is the first year that I plan on going since the pandemic.

I thought I would share with y’all my two favorite orchards that we go to when we can. The first is the one we go to the most. It is in North Georgia which is much closer than the second one. It is out of state but we do make day trips up there from time to time. Usually when we happen to be at my brother’s in South Carolina. Both are great and I love them.

Mercier Orchards

Mercier Orchards is probably the most well known orchard in Georgia. We got to it often. In fact, my sister leave in North Georgia and if I can’t there we have her pick up things for us. If you do get a chance to go make sure you check out there store. Their apple bread is to die for! they also carry hard ciders that they press right there on the farm.

Sky Top Orchard

Sky Top Orchard is the last really big orchard that I went to. It is in Flat Rock, North Carolina and I last week there with my brother. We had the best day and I even wrote about it way back when. You can read that post here. It is open this year again after the pandemic and I may head up there again with the senior citizens if possible.

Finding time to go to the orchard is a great way to spend a Saturday. Now that the weather is a bit cooler you can walk around or even ride around on the tractors. Both of the above orchards also have apples already picked that you can buy without having to pick them yourself. There is always lots to do at these two orchards and the kids loved going whenever we took them.

What to Do with the Apples?

Just what do I make with the apples that we pick? Several different things although I do just eat them plain. I like apples for snacks and as sides with some meals. I use them to make baked apples, apple pie, apple cider, caramel apples, and the occasional candied apple. Candied apples aren’t my favorite but since some family members enjoy them I will make them from time to time. Just don’t give them out at Halloween. You remember getting them and how you felt. Don’t do that to the kiddies. We used to skip the houses that gave apples every year. They weren’t worth it and we just threw them away because you never knew what people did to them.

Do you have apple recipes or ideas to share? Maybe there is an orchard near you that you go to every year. Take a moment to drop us a comment and let us know.