Market Haul: After Apple-Picking Edition

by Anya Hoffman on October 24, 2011

For I have had too much 
Of apple-picking: I am overtired
 Of the great harvest I myself desired. –Robert Frost, “After Apple Picking”

Apple picking is an eagerly anticipated autumn ritual. Crisp fall air, cider donuts, hayrides, a bright wagon overflowing with apples that we are sure we will put to delicious use—sometimes it’s easy to get a little carried away. Once home with our invariably enormous haul, we begin to cook with the best of intentions. But after baking a pie or two and making a couple batches of applesauce without seeing a noticeable dent in the apple stores, panic can begin to set in. What’s an overly ambitious apple picker to do? Here are a few ideas.

The Haul: Apples. Many, many apples.

The Tools: A tabletop apple peeler and a simple corer will save you hours.

The Menu Ideas:

Weekend Apple Pancake [The Kitchn]
A custardy Dutch Baby pancake studded with cinnamon-spiked caramelized apples.

Apple Pectin Jelly [Lindy's Toast]
Add to low-pectin fruit like peaches, strawberries, or apricots to make preserves or enjoy this light, sweet-tart jelly on its own.

Roasted Apple and Squash Chowder [JBF]
A mélange of herbs and spices add warmth and depth to this refined, autumn-inspired soup.

Apple Vodka [Gilt Taste]
Stem-to-pit cooking: save your apple cores and make an apple- and spice-infused spirit that’s the essence of fall.

Green Apple Curry [Simply Recipes]
Pair this tart Caribbean curry with a roast pork loin and some homemade roti or other flatbread.

Applesauce Spice Cake [JBF]
This super-moist, aromatic cake will use up some of your stash of homemade applesauce. Eat a square for breakfast or serve as dessert alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

What do you make after you go apple picking?