The hills are aflame. You can’t feel the autumn, not today, not yesterday. This is Indian Summer. Last week I slid on the icy deck, this week I am in shorts. Everyone I talk to is waiting for winter. They mean cold temps. Northerners don’t fare well in the heat. Seems they revel in the snow and here, the bitter, bitter, cold. Neighbors tell me that it isn’t the cold that makes winter long, (I might disagree after a while on that point) but it is the endless darkness. Days in the north are very, very short. You have to prepare. Think knitting, wood for the stove and apple pies.
I mentioned putting up apples and was asked how to freeze them for pies. Simple. Peel and core the apples. Slice them up the way you like them. Bag them in freezer bags, enough in each bag for a pie. I like to put 7 cups of apples in each bag. Then add to the bag about half the amount of sugar and spices that you will want to use in your pie. Shake it up. Make sure to squeeze as much air as possible out of the bag as you seal it. Freeze. That’s all there is to it. When you want to bake a pie, pull out a bag and let it mostly thaw, add the remaining sugar and spice and pour it into your pie shell.
If you don’t add much sugar, it’s great to have frozen apples for adding to oatmeal, or using in a pork dish. I keep tons on hand. Great for topping popovers for Sunday breakfast.
When I was a child, I was told that a girl isn’t ready for marriage until she can peel an apple, making one long unbroken peel. Today, as I peel apple after boring apple, I amuse myself by peeling each with one long peel.
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15 responses to “freezing apples”
Apples…the perfect fruit of fall. I think I’ll take a cue from you and freeze a few bags this weekend.
I love that. My husband’s grandmother scared us to death one time as we watched her expertly peel an apple for her bedridden husband. We were afraid that her worn and slightly shaky hands would slip with the knife and she’d cut herself, but she’d obviously peeled many apples before and we needn’t have worried.
Dang, if that were still true I’d be single all my life.
I have fond memories of sitting next to my grandmother while she peeled apples. My sister and I would watch in breathless anticipation – would it be one giant peel or not?
Oh, the ‘lengths’ she went to to keep us quiet while she watched Lawrence Welk.
BTW – we preferred eating the peels to the actual apple slices.
I love doing the long long peel. I’m channeling my grandmama.
Your picture of fall in the high country is beautiful. I will freeze some apples (have some corn already there.)
I used to do the long peel with my Grandmother when I was a child. I guess I should do that with my granddaughter now 🙂
I am SO ready for it to get cold……..count me amongst those northerns who love the cold weather!
Thanks! Now all I have to do is get the apples and freeze away!
Oh, apples and fall. Our apples are ready for picking, so we’ll be doing that this week. I really like that third picture. We have one of those apple peelers, but I think it’s more fun to be able to peel them in a single strip by yourself.
I don’t know why I don’t freeze apples like that. It would make pie-baking much less of a hassle.
Maybe this is the year…
How timely is that. I have a fridge full of apples and was wondering if I had to actually make the pies before I froze them or if I could just freeze the apples. One question though, do you add lemon juice to your apples to stop them browning or does it not matter since they’re frozen?
Thanks for the apple tutorial — I also need a tomato lesson — they are piling up!
My kids LOVE the long apple peel — it is pretty neat.
Yup, I think I’ll be freezing apple slices for pies etc…too. Thanks for the “how to”. My neighbor’s mom where I grew up in Greece did the one continuous apple peel thing- fun to watch and rather mesmerizing. Your forest is looking tweedy in color. Beautiful!
I totally do the same thing with apple peels! Actually, come to think of it, I don’t know if I know anyone who doesn’t. It’s like a competition. Gorgeous photos, btw.
You captured it! (both in your words as well as the photos). The essence of the season!
Thank you! This completely solves my issues on what to do with my apples today!