Apple picking adventures on Long Island

It's that time of year again. The arrival of fall brings about the many pleasures of the season: crisp, red apples, apple cider, pumpkins, and harvest fairs. It's apple picking time, so pile everyone in the car – even the dog – for a day in the apple orchards!
The quality of the fruit this season is outstanding, with continuous sunshine and heat this summer putting high sugar levels into fruit, according to grower reports.  “Consumers should expect super sweet apples from our growers this fall,” said New York Apple Association President Jim Allen.
“Our crop is very early this year, so look for your favorite varieties at least a week sooner than typical,” Allen said.
  McIntosh apples are being

picked right now.  Other varieties picked this week include Gala and Honeycrisp.
  For eating straight from the bushel basket or off the tree, choose from the crisp juicy varieties: the perennial favorites McIntosh and Red Delicious, the dense tart Granny Smith, along with the more “exotic” varieties, such as Cortland, Empire, Macoun, and Crispin.
Use McIntosh or Cortland for baking. Cortlands good because their sweetness comes through so that less sugar is needed.
Rome, Cortland and Empire are good for baking, as are Fuji, Crispin and Ginger Gold. In pies, a mix of varieties brings out the best flavor. Try Crispin, Cortland, Rome, Granny Smith, and Northern Spy.
Growers will also be pressing quality batches of cider throughout the fall, and continue to urge consumers to “buy local.” “We hope New York consumers will pick our local apples versus apples from across the continent,” Allen said. “Our apples taste more fresh and flavorful because they just came off the tree. Apples grown locally taste better, are more crunchy and fresh and leave a smaller “carbon footprint” since they travel shorter distances to market, helping the environment.
Then, when you get home with your bounty, make some delicious apple treats.

Classic Apple Pie
Nothing says fall more than tender sweet and spicy apples in a flaky golden crust.

Pastry for two-crust 9-inch pie
6 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground mace
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
Cream or whole milk

1. Heat oven to 425° F. Line a 9-inch pie pan with half the pastry. In large bowl, combine apples, sugar, flour, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and mace; toss well to blend. Transfer apple mixture to pastry-lined pie pan and dot with butter.
2. Cover apple filling with remaining pastry; pinch together edges of bottom and top crust to seal. Brush top crust with cream or milk; cut several slits to vent steam. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 375° F and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender.

Apple Cake
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups finely chopped Granny Smith, Ginger Gold apples
1 cup chopped nuts
1 6-ounce package butterscotch morsels

1. Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Add flour, baking soda and powder, salt and cinnamon, beating well after each addition. Stir in apples, nuts, and morsels. Mixture will be very thick.
2. Press mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350° F for 1 hour.

McIntosh Country Apple Crisp
4 cups (4 apples) sliced McIntosh apples
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup margarine, softened
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Heat oven to 375° F. 
2. Arrange apples in a greased 8"square pan.  Mix remaining ingredients, sprinkle over apples. 
3. Bake until topping is golden brown and apples are tender, about 30 minutes.  Serve warm.

Baked Stuffed Apples
4 Jonagold or Golden Delicious apples
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar

1. Peel top 1/3 of apples; arrange, peeled end up, in microwave-safe baking dish. Combine coconut, apricots, and orange zest; divide to evenly fill centers of apples.
2. Combine orange juice and brown sugar; pour over apples. Cover tightly with vented plastic wrap; microwave on high (100 percent) 7 to 8 minutes or until apples are tender. Cool before serving.

Where to find u-pick orchards
Most orchards that offer u-pick are open seven days, but since the crops arrived early this season, some may be “picked out.”  so it's best to call ahead or check their website before heading out. Many orchards offer family friendly activities, such as wagon and hay rides and related fall activities.

Davis Peach Farm, Hulse Landing Rd., north of Rte. 25A, Wading River. (631) 929-1115 or www.davispeachfarm.com. Open every day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. No dogs.
30 varieties of apples, including Cortland, McIntosh, Fuji and Gala, all ready for picking. Also peaches, plums, nectarines and No dogs or strollers.

Lewin Farms, 812 Sound Ave., Wading River. (631) 929-4327 or www.lewinfarms.com. Open every day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Choose from a dozen varieties of apples, including Yellow Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Rome, Empire, Cortland, and Gala. Also visit the corn maize.

Wickham’s Fruit Farm, Main Rd., Cutchogue. (631) 734-6441 or www.wickhamsfruitfarm.com.. Open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Sundays. Pick apples, and purchase cider, preserves and freshly made doughnuts and pies, along with u-pick pumpkins. This busy place offers tours, wagon rides and bee observation. Dogs are allowed on leashes.

Woodside Farms, Manor La., Jamesport, and Main Rd., Aquebogue. (631) 722-5770 or www.woodsidefarmsli.com. Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pick McIntosh, Gala and Empire. Snacks and drinks are available.

Seven Ponds Orchard, 65 Seven Ponds Rd., Water Mill. (631) 726-8015. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Choose from Ginger Gold, Gala, McIntosh, Macoun, and Golden Delicious. Other activities include a corn maze, hayrides and a picnic area. Blackberry and raspberry picking are also offered, with varied treats for sale.

The Milk Pail, 757 Mecox Rd., Water Mill. (631) 537-2565 or www.milk-pail.com.  Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
26 varieties are available, including Jonamac, McIntosh, Zestar, and Sansa. Also find peaches, home-baked treats and cider for sale. Dogs not allowed in the orchard. Farm wagon tours are available.

Apple facts worth thinking about
It's no coincidence that apples are the symbol of good health. In the Middle Ages, the English said "To eat an apple before going to bed/Will make the doctor beg his bread." We now know that there's a sound basis for the familiar "apple a day" rhyme.

* Apples are absolutely fat-free!
* One apple provides as much dietary fiber as a bowl of bran cereal. That's equal to one fifth of the recommended daily intake of fiber.
* Apples are loaded with pectin, a soluble fiber that aids digestion and may help reduce cancer and heart disease.
* The complex carbohydrates in apples give your body a longer, more even energy boost compared to high-sugar snacks. Snacking on apples can keep you going throughout the day.
* Apples provide boron, an essential trace element that helps harden bones. Strong bones help prevent osteoporosis.