With the beginning of autumn imminent, (September 21 is the autumnal equinox, half way between the summer solstice, the longest day of the year on June 21, and the winter solstice, the longest night, on December 21) the summer crops are nearly done or giving little produce, the long season crops are being harvested, and we are continuing to put away food for the winter.
One long season crop that we always enjoy and is now ready is the apple. No wonder that apples and honey (also harvested in the fall) are a traditional Rosh Hashana treat for wishing a sweet new year to all. Well, the apples were not quite ready for an early Rosh Hashana this year, but they are ready now!
This week you will receive some liberty apples, courtesy of our friend Tom who has an all natural Liberty apple orchard in Council Bluffs. Liberty is very similar to appearance to McIntosh, but its flavor is a bit more tart and its flesh is crisper.
Liberty Apple
These apples are great for eating, baking and will store in a very cool environment for a while. I love them shined up a bit on my shirt and eaten with a resounding crunch! A friend made some apple crisp last night that was amazing. I plan to make apple cider vinegar by juicing some, and putting the juice in a mason jar on the counter covered only with a cheesecloth for a couple weeks. The yeast found naturally in the air will do the work. Then, I will have yummy homemade vinegar to seal up and store for the winter. (I’m actually eating a Liberty as I write this)
Another new red item in your box this week is the Mountain Rose Potato.
- Mountain Rose Potato
These little darlings have red skin and red flesh and are also high in antioxidants. Mountain Rose potatoes are moist but not waxy in texture so they are good for roasting, mashing or serving boiled. The flesh of the potato has a light pink blush, both raw and cooked.
Please remember, and mark on your calendar that the next two (indeed the last two) pick ups are on Wednesday. The dates are September 22 and 29, and the day was changed because the holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah fall on Thursdays in those weeks.
Shavuotov from Dallas.