Yes, the rumor’s are true.  Our Honeycrisp have all sold out for the season.  Combined with the early ripening date, the fewer bushels of apples from our trees and their huge popularity, honeycrisp had a short lived season this year.

If the honeycrisp are all gone why on earth would you still visit the orchard!?  Well, we do happen to group 42 other varieties  of delicious apples too!  I wanted to tell you about a few that you should try out if you are a Honecrisp lover…

Jonagold – this is the apple that most Honeycrisp eaters go to after the Honeycrisp season is done.  

Firm, crackling, juicy, slightly tart, flesh. Superb, rich, full flavor. Finest dessert and eating quality. Good cooking properties. Will store in common refrigerator for 3 months. Jonathan x Golden Delicious cross.

Cameo – a sweeter alternative than the Jonagold.  This apple is slow to brown after being cut which is fantastic for school lunches!

Firm and crisp with a highly appealing subacid, aromatic flavor. Creamy white flesh doesn't brown when cut. Possibly Red Delicious x Golden Delicious found growing in Washington state.

Fireside – another sweeter alternative – if one of your favorite things about the Honeycrisp was there size – this is a great apple for you!

Very large fruit with sweet, pleasant flavor and fine-grained flesh good for fresh eating, salad, and baked apples. Good storage life. McIntosh x Longfield cross released by the University of Minnesota in 1943.

These are just three examples of some fantastic apples we have available still in our shop.  Feel free to ask for a sample (or two, or three) the next time your in.  We want you to go home happy!

The other weekend a really neat looking car was parked in our lot.  I had to turn the register over to Diane for just a few minutes so I could snap some pictures:You don’t see one like this everyday.    

I’ve been asked by many for recipes from the food demonstrations at this year’s 2010 Savor & Sample Festival.  I’m finally getting to posting some.  If you can’t wait for the others go directly to the Columbia County Extension Website:  http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/columbia/

Apple Pie Burritos*
Ardyce Piehl
Taste of Home
Field Editor

Ingredients:
8 Flour Tortillas (9 inch)**
1 – quart jar of apple pie filling (I used Lapacek’s “Apple Pie in a Jar”)
2 Tablespoons Butter, divided (I start with 1 Tablespoon and add as needed
when I am browning them)
Cinnamon Sugar***

Instructions – For each burrito:
1. Place tortilla on a plate and spoon ¼ Cup of apple pie filling down the center of the tortilla.
2. Fold in edges and then fold over top and bottom to hold the pie filling inside, burrito style. Repeat for each tortilla.
3. Heat one Tablespoon butter over medium heat in an electric skillet (approx. 300 °) or in a pan on the stovetop.
4. Place the burritos in the pan, fold side down and brown for 1-2 minutes, or until lightly browned. Turn the burritos over and repeat browning on the other side.
5. Remove from pan and sprinkle with Cinnamon Sugar.

*Try this recipe with other seasonal fresh fruits like peeled and thinly sliced peaches, pears and apples. With fresh apples, add two unwrapped caramels before folding/browning. Try sprinkling with brown sugar and cinnamon for a change!

**Note: Any size flour tortilla may be substituted. Adjust amount of pie filling accordingly.

***Make your own Cinnamon Sugar by mixing ½ Cup granulated sugar and 4 teaspoons of Cinnamon—can add more or less to taste!

17 day old, Baby Blake, slept through his first visit to Lapacek’s Orchard.  What a little angel!