French Apple Cake

Enjoy this delicious, tender cake and share it with family and friends as the perfect afternoon treat.

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose Flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ teaspoon Salt
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted Butter, at room temperature
⅔ cup Granulated Sugar, plus more for sprinkling over cake
2 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
3 tablespoons Dark Rum
2 baking Apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch cubes (3½ - 4 cups chopped)
Confectioners' Sugar (optional) for decorating

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9-inch springform or regular cake pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. If using a regular cake pan, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and grease again.>
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Using a handheld mixer with beaters or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and rum. Don't worry if the batter looks grainy at this point; that's okay. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chopped apples.
Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and even the top. Sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool on a rack in the pan. Once cool, run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake. If using a springform pan, remove the sides. If using a regular cake pan, carefully invert the cake onto the rack, remove the parchment paper, then gently flip the cake over and place right-side-up on a platter. Using a fine sieve, dust with confectioners' sugar (if using).
Cake can be served warm or room temperature, plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Recipe source: https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/french-apple-cake.html

Apple Pecan Salad

Make your green salad more interesting by adding apples, pecans, and goat cheese. This combination creates a unique flavor and texture.

Ingredients:

8 cups mixed Salad greens, such as spinach, arugula & red leaf lettuce
1 cup English cucumber slices halved
1 cup chopped Apple
½ cup Maple Pecans
2 ounces soft Goat cheese (chevre) crumbled
2 green Onions thinly sliced
3 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar dressing

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the salad greens, maple pecans, cucumber slices, chopped apple, goat cheese and green onions.
Toss with the dressing. Taste and add more dressing, if desired.

Recipe Source: https://www.cookincanuck.com/apple-pecan-salad-recipe/

Dutch Apple-Pumpkin Crisp

Have fun making this apple and pumpkin crisp - a perfect combination of fall ingredients that makes a delicious dessert for any occasion!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chopped peeled Apples (2 small)
3/4 cup all-purpose Flour
3/4 cup packed Brown sugar
1/4c cup Butter or Margarine softened
1/4 teaspoon Pumpkin pie spice
1 cup canned Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/3 cup granulated Sugar
1/4 cup Milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1egg
Whipped cream, if desired

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. Spread apples over the bottom of a 9-inch glass pie plate. Microwave uncovered on High for 4 to 6 minutes or until the apples are crisp-tender.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss 3/4 cup flour, the brown sugar, butter, and 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice until crumbly. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, beat the remaining ingredients except whipped cream with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the apples. Sprinkle with flour mixture. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and set. Cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream.

Recipe Source: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/dutch-apple-pumpkin-crisp/15d2823d-2ec8-4d0b-9a61-e844cdc55817

Apple Cider - A New England Tradition

When it comes to Apple Cider, New England is the Master of the Mills. Learn why cider packs more nutrition, flavor, and nostalgia than your standard apple juice.

It doesn't get much better than hand-picking apples at a New England orchard during the fall, except maybe savoring a cup of fresh apple cider. Besides its rich history in Colonial America, apple cider goes a long way in taste, health benefits, and fall traditions.

Fall Traditions

What's fall without cider? This New England staple is a seasonal favorite-traditionally served throughout apple-picking months, at Halloween, at Thanksgiving, and well into the winter holidays. Apple cider can be enjoyed cold, or heated and mulled-mixed with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Whichever way you like it, there's no separating cider from the season!

History of Cider in New England

Cider literally was a staple for early settlers in New England. Just a few years after arriving at Plymouth Rock in 1620, colonists began to plant apple trees. Apples were a good source of food and beverage-the Pilgrims stored the apples and brewed cider to help them through the harsh New England winters. Back then, all cider was "hard" and not the sweet, non-alcoholic version we find in farm markets. Hard cider is created by fermenting pressed apple juice-a process used to preserve the beverage longer.

As history would have it, cider became the most common beverage in New England. This fizzy, fermented version of apple juice was simple to make, kept longer than milk, and safer to drink than water. Early settlers even brewed a low-alcholic version for their children, known as "ciderkin", by steeping their apple mash and pressing it for a second time.

What's the Difference between Apple Cider and Apple Juice?

Apple cider and apple juice have one thing in common-they're both beverages made from fresh-squeezed apples.

The key difference between the two-cider is apple juice that hasn't undergone the filtration process of removing particles, pulp or sediment. Apple juice is filtrated to remove solids and then heated to kill bacteria. Some apple ciders, such as Lyman Orchards Apple Cider, are also pasteurized to extend the shelf life. The result-cider is more opaque than apple juice due to apple particles in suspension and is typically tangier than processed apple juice.

Health Benefits of Apple Cider

Since apple cider isn't filtered, it retains many of the same nutrients as fresh apples and has more polyphenols than apple juice. Polyphenols are antioxidants that can lower the risks for certain health conditions. Here are some of the potential health benefits of apple cider:

Lowers Risk of Disease - apple cider contains antioxidants that can lower the risk of certain types of cancer, and help reduce inflammation.
Prevents Cardiovascular Disease - apple cider can help prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol, which causes buildup of plaque in the arteries.
Relieves Constipation - apple cider has been known to help people with constipation or IBS. Cider's pectin content provides soluable fiber that can help keep you regular.
Provides Nutrients - apple cider is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

What Types of Apples are used to make Cider?

Traditional cider is typically made by blending several varieties of apples to give it a balanced taste. McIntosh, Braeburn, and Cortland apples are especially noteworthy for their acidic, tart flavor, while Fuji, Cortland, Gala and Red Delicious apples provide a sweeter taste. Since New England orchards grow multiple varieties, it's possible to create a consistent mix throughtout the year.

The flavor of the cider also reflects the seasons. In September and October the cider tends to be tart as the predominant apples that are squeezed are tarter and have more bite to them. Moving into November and December, the cider is sweeter.

Lyman Orchards Fresh Apple Cider

Lyman Orchards Fresh Apple Cider is pasteurized and contains no preservatives. In fact, the ingredient list is as clean as it gets-100% Apple Juice. Lyman Orchards cider is available for purchase at the Apple Barrel Farm Market in gallon, half gallon and pint sizes. In the fall, we offer straight Gala or Honeycrisp blends available in 1/2 gallons. You'll also find freshly-baked apple cider donuts and donut holes in our award-winning bakery! For information on pick-your-own apples, please visit lymanorchards.com/pick-your-own/apples.

Classic Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp screams fall! Fresh sliced apples are topped with a classic crisp topping. Don't forgt the vanilla ice cream!

Filling Ingredients:

5 cups fresh apples, sliced

1/2 cup granulated white sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 old fashioned oats

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a deep dish pie plate or large baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Combine apples with sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix until all of the apples are evenly coated. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
3. In a separate medium size bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and stir until well coated and crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top of the apples.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 45-60 minutes until fruit is soft and the topping is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream.

Pick Your Own - An Affordable Family Day Trip

If you're looking for a wholesome, memorable, and affordable family outing, pick-your-own apples at Lyman Orchards is well worth the trip and a whole lot more!

When you live in New England, apple picking is just one of those quintessential pastimes that never goes out of style. Maybe that's because it's more than the act of picking apples. It's a day when the family spends quality time together, enjoys panoramic countryside views, and makes memories to last a lifetime. When planning your next family adventure, there's a bushel of reasons to pick a day of apple picking at Lyman Orchards.

CT Grown Orchard Fresh Apples

There's simply no comparison between picking your own orchard-fresh CT grown apples and buying a bag of apples from the grocery store. For starters, Lyman Orchards apples are eco-certified which means our apples are grown using agricultural methods that preserve and protect the orchard ecology. Not to mention, you really don't know how fresh those store-bought apples really are, how they were handled (or mishandled), or how far or long they had to travel to make their way into the produce aisle. There's no fresher apple than a hand-picked apple straight from the tree!

Pay by the Bag (not by the pound or person)

At the grocery store, apples are sold by the pound but when you visit Lyman Orchards pick-your-own apple orchards, you pay by the 1/2 peck (5-6 lbs), peck (8-10 lbs), and 1/2 bushel (18-22 lbs). The more apples you stuff into your PYO bag the more money you save per pound. You also save based on the size of the PYO bag you choose - the bigger the bag, the bigger the savings!

And since you're not paying by the person like most other family outings, fruit picking is extremely economical for a large family. Bring the baby, the grandparents, and anyone else who might want to tag along!

Abundant Apple Varieties

Unlike the grocery store, you'll find some hard-to-find apple varieties along with all of your New England favorites like McIntosh, Cortland, and Macoun apples. Voted CT's Best Pick Your Own Farm, Lyman Orchards grows 27 different types of apples, so go ahead and create a mixed bag of old favorites, and try some new varieties - try doing that at the grocery store!

The Great Outdoors

Pick-your-own farms are a great way to teach the kids about where their food comes from while taking in some fresh- air fun! At Lyman Orchards, we have 100 sprawling acres of apple orchards with plenty of room to rove between row after row of 30,000 trees. You'll also enjoy some of Connecticut's most dramatic countryside scenery - great for capturing family photos!

It's Worth The Trip

Besides apple orchards, the Lyman Orchards property has so much more to offer than just fruit picking. We have plenty of free and affordable family fun activities to fill your day! Get lost in our Corn Maze, play some cornhole with the kids, pick your own pumpkin, and visit our family-friendly Apple Barrel Farm Market for lunch on the patio, award-winning hi-top apple pies, our famous apple cider donut holes, Lyman's own apple cider, farm-fresh produce, specialty grocery items, and apple crisp sundaes at the Lyman Orchards Creamery.

Take Home the Fun

And when you arrive back home with your overstuffed PYO bag of apples, extend the excursion by baking your own apple pie, apple crisp, or making homemade apple sauce with the kids. Just another great way to create new family-favorite recipes and traditions to be enjoyed for years to come!

Apples to Apples, Lyman Orchards Pick-Your-Own Apples is a budget-friendly day of fresh air and family fun! For more savings, we've packaged up some amazing Pick-Your-Own Apples and Corn Maze deals! For more informaton, visit our PYO apple page. Lyman Orchards Apple Orchards are open daily from 9am-4:30pm, weather permitting. Before you head out, be sure to call our PYO hotline at 860-349-6015 for daily updates, or check our website. For additional pick-your-own fruits and our seasonal calendar, please visit lymanorchards.com/pick-your-own.