The Apple Harvest | Processing Equipment

Making the best use of a fall apple harvest using these new recipes and processing gadgets

Fall is our favorite time of the year, fresh apple cider, baked apples, and apple pie are just a few dishes that mark the official beginning of fall and the start of the Holiday season.

Try some new recipes and processing gadgets.

If you are growing even a small apple orchard, apples can come fast and can become a dilemma, especially as an orchard matures. Reaching the top branches may need an apple picker, and using those fallen apples off the ground makes the best apple cider.

Cider presses are available from a simple table top to a single tub or even a double tub for the large orchard hobby or commercial farm.

More than just a press the complete apple cider press comes with an apple grinder to maximize the juice extraction from the apples as they are being pressed.

The old fashioned apple slicer, peels, cores and slices apples in one pass. It is perfect for producing uniform thin slices for drying apples. Just take the apple after it comes off the slicer and cut in half to make perfect half moon slices ready to go on to the drying racks.

If you enjoy apple sauce, the Victorio Food/Tomato Strainer will make a quick batch from cooked apples for canning. This little gadget will push the seeds and pulp out one end as the sauce pours through the strainer into a side pan.

For those who enjoy fired pies a new Amish counter top pie maker may just be the ticket. It will also make all types of small pocket pies including both fruit and meat pies. This little hand crank pie maker can crank out up to 500 pies per hour! It is perfect for families who enjoy frozen pies all year long to groups who are looking for a new fund raising idea for church, civic clubs at fall festivals.

Recipes and processing products courtesy off Cottage Craft Works .com All the Amish cookbooks referenced and the products can be purchased online from this unique sustainable living general store.

Making Apple Cider

All types of cider presses and apple picking equipment

If you are growing even a small apple orchard, apples can come fast and can become a dilemma, especially as an orchard matures.

Reaching the top branches may need an apple picker, and using those fallen apples off the ground makes the best apple cider.

Cider presses are available from a simple table top to a single tub or even a double tub for the large orchard hobby or commercial farm.

Cider presses can be purchased at Cottage Craft Works .com

Counter Top Hand Crank Pie Machine

Cranks out up to 200 pies per hour!

For those who enjoy fired pies a new Amish counter top pie maker may just be the ticket. It will also make all types of small pocket pies including both fruit and meat pies.

This little hand crank pie maker can crank out up to 500 pies per hour! It is perfect for families who enjoy frozen pies all year long to groups who are looking for a new fund raising idea for church, civic clubs at fall festivals.

Amish Cake and Pie Recipes

Great old time recipes from Amish cookbooks

Apple Coffee Cake
2 c. sugar
3c. flour
¼ tsp salt
2tsp. soda
1 c. shortening
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
4 chopped apples
Topping
4 tbsp. melted butter
1 c. brown sugar
4 tbsp. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. chopped nuts
Mix sugar, flour, salt and soda. Add shortening and make crumbs. Add eggs milk, and vanilla, and mix. Add apples. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over batter. Bake 350° for 45 minutes. This makes a large cake, use half batch for a small cake pan.

Recipe from Cooking with the Horse & Buggy People II

Magic Apple Pie (No Pie Crust)
1 egg
¾ c. sugar
½ c. flour
1 t. baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 medium tart apple, peeled and diced
½ c. raisins
Beat eggs; add sugar, flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in apples and raisins. Spread into a greased pie plate. Bake 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Check to see it is done with a toothpick inserted near the center to verify it comes out clean. Serve with whipped topping or ice cream if desired.

Recipe from Wooden Spoon Wedding Sampler Amish Cookbook

Apple Dumplings and Ice Cream Toppings

Two favorite Amish recipes to serve with ice cream

Grilled apple topping (for ice cream)
3 med. Apples, peeled
1/3 c. raisins
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/3 c. brown sugar
¼ tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbsp. cold butter
1/3 c. finely chopped walnuts
Vanilla ice cream

Cut each apple into 16 wedges; place on foil. Sprinkle with raisins; drizzle with lemon juice. In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, salt and nutmeg; cut in the butter. Stir in walnuts, sprinkle over apples and raisins. Fold foil around apple mixture and seal tightly. Grill over indirect heat for 18-22 minutes, or until apples are tender. Serve over ice cream. Yield 3 cups.

Recipe from Outdoor Cooking cookbook

Apple Dumplings
2 cups whole wheat flour
2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
2/3 cup butter
½ cup milk

6 apples, peeled, cored, halved
Syrup; 2 cups maple syrup, 2 cups water, 1 tsp. cinnamon.
Mix first three ingredients. Cut in butter. Add milk. Roll out and cut into squares. Place ½ apple on each square, fold pastry together until apple is completely covered. Place in baking dish. Pour syrup over apples bake at 350° for 45 minutes. Serve warm. Good with ice cream!

Recipe from Healthy Choices Cookbook from Keepers at Home magazine readers.