Farm Fun

This past Saturday we did something we've never done before, we went apple picking. (And it isn't that I've never picked apples before - I used to have an apple tree - but I've never been to a farm to pick a specific fruit or vegetable.) It was a whole lot of fun! We went with our friends Emily and Brandon and picked a basket full. (What is this called? A peck?) Go here to see apple pickin' pictures.

So anyway, I've got a WHOLE LOT OF APPLES now and I don't quite know what to do with all of these. So far, I've made an apple cake with my sister's great recipe (that didn't tell me how much flour to use - sheer panic for me - but it still turned out pretty yummy). But I've still got plenty of apples. Any ideas? Here is the apple cake recipe for any of you adventurous bakers.

Apple Cake:
1 cup corn oil
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs well beaten
1 1/2 cups flour
1/8 tsp. salt
2 heaping tablespoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups chopped tart apples
1 cup chopped pecans

Blend oil and sugar in a large bowl; add well-beaten eggs and beat until
creamy, using medium speed or by hand. Add flour, salt and cinnamon into
creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in vanilla and apples. Fold in nuts.
Spread batter evenly into greased and floured 13x 9 x 2 inch pan.
Bake in preheated 350 degree oven on middle shelf for about 1 hour or until
cake tests done. Cool on rack.

Well, I'm not real sure what "fold in nuts" meant, but I just mixed them in. It tasted okay to me.

We really had a nice Saturday with Emily and Brandon. It's been hard to find fun couples to hang out with up here, people who we're compatible with (that have the same kind of humor as us). And so it was nice to have someone to play with. Emily and I began the Saturday by going to get pedicures (something that was completely unfamiliar territory for me, as is baking obviously) and then we met up with the boys for a picnic by the Mamaroneck harbor. Afterwards we went apple (and pumpkin) picking, came back home to hang out a bit, and then back out for dinner and to the Great Blaze. We had a good ole time.