It's Autumn 2002: Pick an Apple, Pick a Pumpkin

by Sandy Goodman

see list of nearby orchards below

photo courtesy of Applewood Orchards

(October 5, 2002) October is the month of shiny apples, sweet cider and orange pumpkins. Most years the leaves would be orange, red and gold by now, but lingering summer weather is keeping Westchester green even as the stores fill with Halloween costumes and candy. Despite the unseasonable temperatures, the apples and pumpkins are being harvested at the few farms close enough for day trips. So it’s a good time to round up the kids, hop in the car and head out for a leisurely day exploring nearby orchards and pumpkin patches.

Most orchards offer both healthy produce and old-time fun. They usually have a farm stand or a country store and a place to have a picnic lunch. Some provide weekend pony or hayrides, corn mazes, or a petting zoo for the kids. Special events may include harvesting festivals with entertainment – check ahead for the schedules.

Both apples and pumpkins are nutritious, high in fiber and vitamins, and low in fat and calories. The versatile apple is great for eating out of hand or folding into cakes, cookies or bread. There are so many easy things you can prepare with apples, from sauce to cider. And if you can’t eat all the apples you pick at the orchard, you can cook and freeze them so they’re ready to pop into a pie on a winter's day.

One caveat: be sure to use the right apple for the right purpose. The lovely Red Delicious found at many local orchards is absolutely atrocious when cooked. The homely Macoun is another eating apple prized for its winy taste, but it's best during a very short “peak season” and doesn’t store well. Many New York varieties don’t peak until after a fall frost, which has yet to occur in most orchard locales.

If you're cooking, the Macintosh is perfect for applesauce, since it “melts” easily when heated; the Mutsu, Rome, and Granny Smith keep their shape if you’re looking for a firm textured tart or pie. Since most orchards have only one or two varieties available for picking at any one time, you might want to call ahead before you invest in four bushels of the wrong variety. The Soons Orchard suggests, “Since apples taste better when they are picked according to their schedule -- not ours -- we will offer each variety for picking only when it is ready. Its also possible that some listed varieties may sell out before their last forcasted weekend.” Calling ahead is definitely the way to go. To learn about the apples you’re likely to encounter at a farm near Larchmont, check out the New York Apple Country website.

Pumpkins are easier than apples – most of us don’t care about the variety and are only looking for that perfect Jack O' Lantern. However, don’t overlook the pumpkin’s practical virtues: it gets good marks for taste and nutrition. Pumpkins and winter squash both belong to the gourd family. They get their bright orange color from their beta-carotene, which is the plant form of vitamin A. They are also high in vitamin C, iron and folic acid. There are plenty of uses for pumpkin other than the proverbial pumpkin pie. It can be pureed, steamed baked and boiled. Seasonings that enhance its flavor are cumin, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, ginger nutmeg and honey.

You can get the nutritious part of the pumpkin from a can, but picking the perfect pumpkin at the farm is much more satisfying. When children are very small, it is fun to snap pictures with a pumpkin three times their size. The whole family will enjoy looking for odd-shaped gourds to use as centerpieces for the dining room table. And of course, while you are at the pumpkin patch is the time to get that perfect Jack O’Lantern.

The best part of a trip to the orchard is cooking and eating what you pick! Try some of the recipes below or send us some of your own.

HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE I

Ingredients:

4 medium cooking apples
l cup water
½ cup of brown sugar (if desired)
Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

Directions:

Wash the apples very well. Then peel, core and quarter the apples and simmer them until tender in about an inch of water over medium heat. You can puree your apples in a food processor or mash them well for chunkier applesauce.

HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE II
Easy and maximizes the apples’ nutritional content, but requires a food mill.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Wash the apples well. Quarter them and toss them into the pot with a small amount of water. Bring the water to the boil, cover the pot and turn the heat to low until the apples are very tender. Use a food mill to further puree apples and remove skins and seeds.

PUMPKIN ICE-CREAM PIE

Ingredients:

1 quart of vanilla ice cream
1 cup strained, blended and pureed pumpkin
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 large graham cracker piecrust

Directions:

Take ice cream out of the freezer and let it become soupy. Put the ice cream in a bowl with the pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Stir, pour it into the crust and set it in a level place in the freezer to harden overnight.

PUMPKIN-RAISIN DROPS

Ingredients:

1 beaten egg
3/4 cup strained, blended and pureed pumpkin
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
pinch of pumpkin pie spice
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
½ cup raisins
Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

In a medium mixing bowl stir together egg, pumpkin, sugar, oil and vanilla. In another bowl, stir flour, spices, baking soda and salt. Blend and stir dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture. Then add and stir in the raisins.

Spray a baking sheet with the nonstick cooking spray. Drop the dough by rounded teaspoonfuls one inch apart onto the cookie sheet. Bake in a 350 degree oven for around 12 minutes, or until done. Cool. This makes about 24 cookies.

LISTING OF NEARBY ORCHARDS

Be forewarned that the apple crop has not had a good growing season this year and some varieties may not be available at this time. However, this is peak time for pumpkin picking and viewing.

IN NEARBY -- WESTCHESTER COUNTY

OUTHOUSE ORCHARDS
Hardscrabble Road, Croton Falls, NY
914-277-3188

In addition to apple and pumpkin picking, there are many activities every weekend—hay rides, craft vendors, pony rides, face painting, fresh donuts and cider.

WILKENS FARM
1313 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights, NY
914-245-5111

There are Macs, Cortlands, Red and Golden Delicious apples plus pick-your-own pumpkins and cider, donuts, pies and muffins.

IN ROCKLAND COUNTY

DR. DAVIES FARM
Rt. 304, Congers, NY
845-268-7020

THE ORCHARDS OF CONKLIN
Route 45 & South Mountain Road, Pomona, NY
845-354-0369

You’ll be able to pick-your-own pumpkins, Macouns, Empires and Cortlands. There’s also a mini-corn maze and tractor rides, but call ahead to see what's being picked on the day you plan to arrive

DUTCHESS COUNTY

BARTON ORCHARDS
Route 7, Beekman, NY
845-227-2306

Bartons is a day-long experience. This 120-acre farm has everything, including music by country bands. Call for information on weekend entertainment and events. If you rush over, you’ll get raspberries, grapes, and pumpkins. There are no pick-your own apples (a late Spring frost nipped the buds) but there are prepicked apples available and a corn maze, hayrides, pony rides, playground, petting zoo and Halloween crafts.

SECOR FARMS
63 Robinson Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY
845-452-6883

Harvest Festival is every weekend in October plus Columbus Day – with hayrides, the Amazing Pumpkin Maze, decorative pumpkin display, and snacks.

GRIEG FARM
Pitcher Lane, Red Hook(off Route 9), NY
845-758-1234

During the first 3 weekends in October there are Fall harvest festivals with hayrides, barbecues, face painting, and more. You'll also find hiking, historic houses, and antiquing nearby.

ULSTER COUNTY

SOONS ORCHARD
845-374-5901
e-mail Soons

Soons has a great website, with a lot of information and directions: Soons
Through October there's pick your own apples and pumpkins every weekend from 10 am to 4 pm, plus all day Columbus Day (October 14). The owner reports there are many varieties of apples still available, despite a very bad growing season. This Fall, Soons is also offering horse and carriage rides. Horse-experts Dave and Linda Denman ride around the orchard - perfect for families and romantic couples alike!

ORANGE COUNTY

APPLEWOOD ORCHARDS
82 Four Corners Rd, Warwick, NY
845-986-1684
website: Applewood Orchards

In addition to Pick your own apples and pumpkins, there is also a winery. The Applewood Winery offers tours and tastings.

While it is late in the season for apples, there are pumpkin weekends throughout October which include puppet shows, live music and food.

IN NEARBY CONNECTICUT

SILVERMAN'S FARM
451 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT
203-261-3306

Silverman’s has an animal farm open year-round where children can feed the baby animals. There is also a wonderful farm market that offers home made pies, cookies, jams and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Mamaroneck resident Sandy Goodman is a Registered Dietitian and a free lance writer specializing in nutrition, parenting and health

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