I wanted to take a few minutes to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas! 

We’re all snuggled and warm in our house ready to start our family celebration.  I hope you all enjoy your own Christmas this season!

And, keep us in mind during the new year.  We still have lots of apples for baking or sauce making, honey and maple syrup! 

We still have apples… cameo, red delicious, golden delicious, macintosh, cortland, empire (small ones), idareds (a few)…  and we’re going to open up for you all one last time for just a short period of time on Sunday, December 15th from 10am to noon.  Stop in and get a bag or two for baking or to store and get you through a winter month or two.

We also have gallons of cider which is very freezable. 

There are still some gift-y items in the shop like soy candles, jewelry, ornaments, maple syrup, mugs, etc…  Great opportunity to avoid those crowded stores and get a few stocking stuffers, gifts for teachers, or even babysitters. 

If you would like honey please email me:  lapaceksorchard{at}gmail{dot}com TONIGHT to let me know if you want a big jar or little jar.  It’s too cold to keep in the shed but we can bottle you some fresh local honey to order. 

Thanks!  Hope to see you at the orchard one last time!

 

photo’s taken by Friends in Photography

This will be the last Sunday recipe from these two books for awhile.  I hope you’ve enjoyed these ‘old’ recipes I’ve been sharing.  Today will be a bonus – 2 recipes!

Hot Cider Punch

2 C. cranberry juice

8 C. apple cider

1/4 C. brown sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

3/4 T. whole cloves

1/4 tsp. salt

 

Place juice and cider in electric percolator.  Place all other ingredients in basket.  Perk till it shuts off.  For a 30 cup pot, use 1 gallon cider, 1 quart cranberry juice and triple the spices. 

 

Wassail

2 qts. cider

2 C. cranberry

3/4 C sugar

2 pieces stick cinnamon

1 1/2 t. whole allspice

1 orange studded with whole cloves

1 C rum (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and brew for 4-5 hours before serving. 

Applesauce Meringue Cake

A company treat

1 1/2 C sugar

1/2 C shortening

2 egg yolks

1 1/2 c unsweetened applesauce

2 t soda

3 C flour

1 C chopped nuts

1 t lemon extract

2 egg whites

2/3 C brown sugar

Cream shortening and sugar; add egg yolks and lemon extract.  Mix soda with flour and nuts; add to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce.  Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan.  Beat egg whites until stiff; gradually beat in brown sugar.  Spread meringue over raw cake batter.  Bake at 350 degrees, 30-40 minutes or just until cake tests done.  Do not overbake. 

The shop has been officially converted into a Holiday Heaven!  Seriously – I can guarantee that you will find one or more, many more, perfect Holiday Gifts for this upcoming season!  I really need to get to bed so I’m just going to leave with you with LOTS of pictures of items that are available so you can start strategizing for tomorrow or Saturday NOW!

What does the Fox Say?  - I’m heading to Lapacek’s Orchard of course!

Burlap wreaths, wreath stands, quilted goods…

adorable onesies!

eye masks

 

What does the Giraffe say?  …I LOVE the Hoedown!

Chicken wire frame and utensil necklaces

Holiday signs

Yes – the infamous upcylced felt wool sweater mittens!

Lots of NEW Hearts for Susie Heart Earrings – A Portion of the proceeds goes to the American Heart Association!

Ornaments…ornaments and more ornaments!

Beautiful hand crafted cutting boards

Pillowcases with pockets and a worry doll!

 Wood turned bowls and home accessories

Olive Forks with an Attitude

Holiday hair accessories

Felted wool slippers

Adorable skirts for your little ones

tutus

Dolls and aprons

soap!

Alpaca products – scarves, yarn, felted soap, roving, socks, blanket and more!

Card/picture holders

Bottle openers, quilts, cake stands, and ornaments

holiday décor

Baskets, bags, bookmarkers, signsTurkey’s!

Paper crafts – great stocking stuffers!

Christmas trees, cards, jewelry, hair accessories…

Lanyards and key fobs – ‘Made by Ilyana; 7 years old and full of crafts!"’

Hair bows

Rulers – by the foot –

Crocheted hatshome décor

Terrariums!Wool felted ornaments

Ornaments from ‘Cedi & Moose’ – mostly Moose (aka Capri)

Chalkboard bottomed wine glasses

Upcycled sweaters, scarves, arm warmers and hats!

Hats…Stained Glass…

 

AND this is not all!  These are just a FEW examples of all the amazing things we have all in one apple shop!  Stop by tomorrow from 9 to 6 or Saturday from 9 to 5!  Oh…and of course we’ll have some apple cider donuts – we’re making them fresh early tomorrow morning…

Apple Hermits

1/2 C. oleo

1 C. brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 C. nuts

1 C. raisins

1/2 C. quick rolled oats

1 C. chopped apples

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. soda

1 3/4 T. flour

Pinch of salt

Cream oleo and brown sugar.  Add other ingredients and mix well.  Drop by teaspoon on cookie sheet.  Bake at 325 degrees until nicely brown, 10-12 minutes.

I was up early this morning so I could be at the local Channel 27 WKOW News Station for an interview about next weekends Handcrafted Hoedown for the Holiday’s!

 

WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

 

If you missed it – no worries, you can watch it by clicking above.

What an exciting morning!

It’s official.  This 2013 apple season Lapacek’s Orchard has teamed up with New Glarus Brewing Company to provide a portion of the cider they used to press this season’s batch of Apple Ale. 

During the season we did two different cider presses for the Brewery – one in early September and another in early October.  They used a lot more than just our cider to make the Ale but there is definitely a significant portion of Lapacek’s Apple Cider in this brew!  This was a HUGE partnership for us.  We were able to pick more apples from our trees than we normally would have since we added an outlet for our produce.  A win win, I’d say!I was excited to come home today to a box containing a six pack of the Apple Ale!  Unfortunately I still had a lot of running to do with my girls so I had to wait a bit until I was able to give it a try.

It’s official.  The 2013 batch of apple ale is delicious!

I’m not sure if it’s available in the store yet but I’ll be sure to post when we spot it!  I’m sure we’ll be drinking more of six of these this season.

Butterscotch Apples

6 baking apples

1/3 Cup light cream

1/3 Cup dark corn syrup

1/3 C chopped pecans

Sauce:

1 C light cream

1/2 C dark corn syrup

2 T butter

1 t vanilla

 

Wash and core apples, but do not peel; place in a buttered shallow baking dish.  Combine cream, syrup and pecans and fill center of apples.  Bake at 350 degrees until tender.  Combine sauce ingredients and simmer 20-30 minutes until thickened.  Arrange warm apples on a plate with dessert dish of warm sauce in center.  Serves 6.