Apples Apples.. who's got the Apple Recipes?

Here's some of Carol's favorite apple recipes from the Fenton Apple Orchard in Sandy River Apples.....

	This recipe is just perfect on a hot summer day. The pie is cold and a little tart. The whipped creme makes it melt in your mouth. Sometimes I make it in a jelly roll pan ( a big rectangle) then I slice it into square, bite size pieces. Stick a toothpick in it and you have a little bit of heaven on a stick. "Cidah Pie" 5 cups of cider 3/4 cups of sugar 10 Tablespoons of corn starch 1 teaspoon nutmeg Bring all ingredients to a boil and cook until it thickens stirring with a wire whisk. Pour into a pre-baked pie shell. Refrigerate over night and serve with whipped creme. Apple Cranberry Pie 3 cups peeled, sliced apples 1/2 cup of sugar 3 Tab. flour 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 2 Tab. butter (melted) 1 (16 oz.) can whole cranberry sauce Make pie crust for a two-crust pie and use a 9" pie pan. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. In large bowl, combine all filling ingredients; mix lightly. Spoon into crust-lined pan. Top with second crust; seal edges and flute. Cut slits in top crust. Bake at 425 degrees F for 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. If necessary, cover edge of crust with strips of foil after 20 min. of baking to prevent excessive browning. Serves 8. Leona Davis of Mercer, Maine taught Carol this recipe. You can keep the dough for about a week in the refrigerator which is a good thing. Leona's Pie Crust 5 cups of flour 2/3 cup cold water 1 lg. egg 1 rounded tsp. of sugar 1 pound of Crisco 1 Tab. white vinegar 1-2 tsp.salt Sift flour, sugar and salt. Cut Crisco into flour until it is crumbly. Beat egg, water, and vinegar. Mix into crumbly flour. Make a ball ( I use my hands for this) and place in tinfoil in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour. Roll out dough on floured surface.If you need a baked shell.  Bake it 10 min. at 450 degrees F.

Martha Stewart has nothing over these recipes!!!

The Quilted Apple Retreat!

So here we are in Maine... at the Sandy River Apple orchards.... inside an incredible 100+ year old barn Carol has restored as her Quilter's Quarters.... can't believe how beautiful it is and just amazing what Carol has done to make this come together... well actually I can believe it.. Carol is an amazing woman... loves her crafts and loves her friends... put them together and this is what you get...  The Quilted Apple Retreat!

  

We'll be helping Carol and her dad pick apples from their apple orchard, perhaps make some cider and pies to sell to the "tourists" who come by... plus they can pick their own apples too... Jerry will be staying on to help Carol prepare for her Open House on October 9th of the restored barn, turn Retreat!  It will officially open the Fall of 2012. Her Blog explains it all and I'll be sharing more pictures throughout the week so you'll see the progress.

Country quilting, downhome accommodations & delectable dining.

What could be more fun than spending an entire weekend quilting? And not just quilting, but partaking in bountiful culinary creations, taking walks along the river, and picking apples from over 500 heritage apple trees.

Located 2 miles off of Route 2 in the town of Mercer, The Quilted Apple Retreat is located on the heritage-rich Fenton family farm, nestled along the banks of the Sandy River near Skowhegan and Farmington. The Fenton farm has seen six generations attend to its needs and is surrounded by 200 acres of pine forests.

The “Quilter’s Quarters”, a 1790’s farm home, includes sleeping accommodations for eight. The sewing room is located in our newly renovated and spacious 200 year old “shot gun stock” barn.

All meals are included, from a welcoming “show ‘n tell” get acquainted party featuring champagne and hors d’oeuvre buffet on Friday evening, through a lavish Sunday brunch before your departure.

Over 100 Years Ago...

Established in 1852, Sandy River Apple Orchard has been in the Fenton family since 1852. Frank L. Fenton with his wife Angelia bought the farm from the original settlers whom are buried in the cemetery behind the main house. In 1910 Frank’s son, William Fenton, bought the adjacient farm and began to work both farms. After sitting vacant for 30 years, William’s son Francis W. Fenton retired from the Navy and returned in 1972 to re-establish the farm and orchards. Francis along with his wife Dollie Lea brought the farm back into full production. Today, Francis (95 years young) still runs the orchard with the help of his daughter Carol .

Nestled along the banks of the Sandy River in Mercer, Maine, this quaint orchard produces an astounding 143 different varieties of apples for you to sample, pick-your-own, or buy by the bag. Orchard owner and apple expert, Francis Fenton and daughter Carol, are eager to share everything they know about apple growing, preparing, and cooking. Bring your family to the Sandy River Apple Orchard for a down-home apple-picking excursion, rich with Maine apple history.

Can't believe we're here.... words just don't describe the beauty of the country and the amazing way of life.

New England in the Fall.....

Today  we head out on our first real day of vacation!! Woo Hoo....  seems like eons since we took vacation.. but come to think about it, it was last July... so barely over a year, when we went River Rafting in Colorado.... but anywho... now we're headed for Mercer, Maine... and the Sandy River Apple Farm to visit my dear friend Carol! I'm sooo excited!

Carol actually lives here in Poway near us in California..... but each year she spends time on the farm with her 96-year old father Francis.... helping him keep the farm alive in Maine.....



They were interviewed last December by the Salt local broadcasting..... go to the interview on Mercer's Last Apple Orchard here.... remember, you're listening to history and a story that not many people can tell.... Francis Fenton.

I can't wait to see them both....

we're on our way Carol....

save some pie for us!!

xoxoxoxo

Holiday SAS (Christmas)

Last but certainly not least, are the Christmas cards... I am just in love with the quilted pop up card... makes you feel warm and cozy just lookin' at it! Not sure why I don't make more cards with pop-ups.. cuz they sure are easy to do!

If you didn't make it to my August Stationary Box class, then you didn't get to learn how to make a box out of a piece of paper...

but never fear...

you'll learn again here!

Holiday SAS (Thanksgiving)

Project two of organized chaos is the Thanksgiving cards.... I'm always asking Jerry his opinion of each card I make... and the one with the large button and three fall leaves was his favorite.... gotta say I think it's pretty cool too... the picture doesn't do any of these cards justice.... of course part of that could be operator error or poor camera quality...

These Make n'Takes work perfect as a placeholder at Thanksgiving Dinner table.. fill with raffia or some Harvest potpourri; acorns, straw, walnuts, etc.... You could even hand print the person's name on the handle just to personalize it!

I think Shelly's favorite was the Fall Sunflower..... xoxoxoxo

Holiday SAS (Halloween)

As promised.. here's the three Halloween cards made at my Holiday Stamp-a-Stack! I think the favorite was a tie... everyone still loves the Wicked Cool set.. it's just so dang cute.... but the new little Haunted Halloween a'la carte stamp is just stinkin cute.... and it was fun creating the Harvest Moon shining between the two haunted trees...  and did ya notice that cute little squirrel at the foot of the tree.... spooky just doesn't describe this one... spooky cute is more like it!!

 

Mr Hoot Owl is made from the Pillow Box Sizzix die.... he wasn't a trick to make... and once you fill him with some candies he'll be a treat to eat!