Donut Picking

Every fall people 'round these parts start to get all jazzed up about apple season.  Weekends revolve around when you're going to go picking.  Personally, I love to go picking.  Donut picking.  

There are many different places in the area for good apple picking, but for the real thing--the donut picking--there is only one: Saratoga Apple.  Their donuts are fresh and hot off the donut tree.  They make them right there.  Right in front of you!  It's a miracle of nature, I tell ya. 

 Donuts being harvested

Saratoga Apple is situated along Rt. 29 between Saratoga and Schuylerville.  Now, I have to say that over the years, Saratoga Apple has gone a little, for lack of a better term, corporate.  You used to be able to grab a bag, go pick some apples and then pay by the pound.  Now, you must buy a bag ($6!!!!).  Then you can go picking.  And then they charge you by the bagful.  So a $6 bag of apples ends up costing you $12.  I don't think so.  I know there are other, more reasonable, places to go apple picking  and I recommend you find one of them.  The place is a zoo on weekends, which is when Christina and I ventured out there.  But, really, there is no other place for apple cider donuts.  I mean, don't even try to convince me otherwise.  I know a good thing when I find it.

They also have very nice produce I have to say.
Gorgeous apples:

 

Honeycrisp are my fave (sweet, tart, light and crispy):

Cinderella pumpkins:

Fruits:

But really, we just came for the donuts.  They are out of this world.  Crisp and soft and slightly sweet with a hint of apple cider.  Ours were so hot we couldn't even eat them at first.  Does it get any better than that?

Donuts waiting to be picked.

While you're there you can also grab a hot dog (which I did).

Or do whatever it is people do in teepees.

We decided to wander across the road to Schuylerville Farms who sets up a giant corn maze every year.  It was at that moment I realized the perfect linguistic irony that is "corn maze".  Get it?  Corn?  Maize?  Aren't I smart?



There wasn't much going on there.  The corn maze was still being used for actual corn so that was a bummer.  In fact the whole place was a little sad and a tad creepy.

eek!

But wait!  There were pigs!

oink!

And ducks!

quack!

And, yes, YES, GOATS!!!!

rectangular pupils in full effect

Christina shared her honeycrisp apple core with this friendly fellow.

nom nom nom

We were about to shove off when we came across this sign:

Note: if it says "X-treme" it must be good.

How fun can that be you ask?   It was $2 for three chances to shoot a half cob of dried up corn out of an air cannon, but I tell you, I would probably have paid to shoot that thing all day.   It was so much fun!  Christina really got some air on the last one.

see it?

So, it was a pretty fun afternoon of apples, donuts and corn shooting.  I highly recommend making your way out to Saratoga Apple for some good old-fashioned donut picking.  It's a bumper crop this year!

 Byeeeeeee!

Zookini

For those (6) of you who have been reading this blog you may have started to ask yourself, "Self, where are the noms???"

I apologize for my lack for culinary contributions.  I had lots of plans and lots of recipes in my head but August turned into September and September turned into what it does every year: Nutcracker Hell.  Nutcracker Hell begins mid-September with auditions and lasts through the fall until mid-December when we finally perform the darn thing.  In between there are tears over casting, angry stage mothers, scheduling nightmares, tutu rehabilitation, over 100 hours of rehearsals, 5 burns from hot glue and countless other fiascos that I can't name because they haven't happened yet.  But they will.  Oh, but they will. 

I finally found time to make one of my favorite summer-into-fall desserts.  Well, it's not really dessert.  It's not really breakfast.  Teatime snack?  Whatever, it's the beloved and humble Zucchini Bread!

I love all bread/cakes like this.  Banana, carrot, they're all great.  Are they cakes?  Are they breads?  The world may never know...  This is my favorite zucchini bread recipe and Robiño always raves about it.  It's moist, not too heavy, travels well, freezes well.  What's not to like?  It's adapted from something I found on the interwebs called "California Blue Ribbon Zucchini Bread".  I don't know where or when this won a blue ribbon or even who was doling out these ribbons but who cares?  It's a winner!

Here's what you need:

Hi!

We've got two smallish zucchinis (you are going to need two cups after grating), sugar, eggs, canola oil (regular vegetable is fine), vanilla, flour, baking soda AND baking powder, salt, cinnamonamon, nutmeg, walnuts, and golden raisins (you can certainly use regular raisins if that's all you've got.  No judgment.)

First thing you need to do is grate the zucchinis.  Now don't start whipping out your Cuisinarts and Robot Coupes with their fancy grater attachments.  Slow down!  All you need is one of these guys.

Remember me? 

Good ole box grater.  You will thank me when all you need to do is rinse this little guy off instead having to clean the bajillion parts on your food processor.  It's so fast to grate zucchinis.  It took me less than 90 seconds to accomplish this:

So satisfying!

After this you can pack your shreds into a two cup glass measuring cup.  I really packed them in because I didn't want any leftover.  I think you can be pretty relaxed about the exact amount of zucchini.  A little more or less is not going to sink the ship.

Next, you need to sift your dry ingredients.  I know, I know nobody hates it more than I to see the word "sift" in a baking recipe.  Sifting is annoying.  It takes time.  It takes one more implement.

I guess if you want to forgo the sifting you are welcome to do so.  It's a free country.  I, however, do not like to anger the baking gods so I dutifully sift when it's called for.  I play by the rules. 

Sifting is fun!

I always sift onto wax paper.  That way I can carry the fluffy goodness over to the mixer sling-like and it's easy to gradually pour it in.  Plus, one less bowl.  You're welcome.

So sift all the dry stuff together and let it wait while you attend to the wet.  Eggs, sugar (yes, it's considered "wet") oil, vanilla all go in.  Mix until it's a nice light yellow color.  Add the zucchini and then gradually pour in the dry stuff.  Do this slowly or you will have flour nightmares for many days.  Dump in your nuts and raisins and this is what you've got:

I know, it doesn't look like much now but just you wait, 'Enry 'Iggins, just you wait.  Grease (Pam) your loaf pans and fill equally with batter.

Bake in a 325℉ oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.  You'll want to check after an hour to see if they're done.  Mr. Toothpick should come out clean.  Let them sit out on a rack until they are cooled.

Yes.  Yessss!

After cooling you can either turn them out or just leave them in the pans and cut out slices as needed.  If you want to freeze, wrap your loaf in pieces of plastic and then throw a few layers of foil around them.  They'll keep for a couple months I'd imagine.  I wouldn't know.  We inhale ours.

Oh boy.

Too good.

So, while everyone still has zucchinis coming out the wazoo, go on and make yourself some zucchini bread/cake/whatever.  You can thank me later.

Byeeeeeee!

Zucchini Bread

adapted from California Blue Ribbon Zucchini Bread

• 2 cups zucchini, grated
• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup canola oil
• 3 eggs
• 3 teaspoons vanilla
  
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Sift flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg together and set aside.  In mixer, beat eggs together then add in the oil, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the zucchini and mix well. Gradually add in sifted flour mixture until incorporated. Stir in the raisins and nuts. Pour into two greased loaf pans and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes at 325°F. Toothpick inserted into the middle of each loaf should come out clean.  Place pans on wire rack until completely cool. 

Farmers Market, Schmarmers Market

Saratoga has a big farmers market that opens every Wednesday and Saturday. 

They've got lots of vendors selling everything from microgreens to free-range lamb shanks.  As much as I would like to say I shop there every week for beautiful organic ingredients that I then lovingly prepare in my kitchen, I kinda, sorta... don't.  I actually find the farmers market a little annoying and pretentious.  It's such a scene and it seems like most of the people there are there because they want the other people there to know that they are buying their food there and not at, say, the Price Chopper on Rt. 50.  Plus, it's kind of expensive.  Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we have a farmers market and I'm all for local and fresh and not buying tomatoes in February from "The Walmarts".  But when I want local and fresh I don't go to no stinkin' farmers market.  I head straight for the farm stands.


Farm stands are quite ubiquitous around these parts.  There are the big nice farm stands with wooden huts and scales and lots of different offerings throughout the growing season.  There are other, more modest farm stands where people just leave veggies out and coffee can to put your money in.  (We are honest folk around here, you big city types.)  Then there's the not-quite farm stand that the house down the road sets up which is a piece of plywood set on an old kitty litter bucket.  They put out cucumbers and tomatoes when they have extra with a little cardboard sign saying "FRee".  Kitty litter aside, free veggies!  Chew on that, Farmers Market!


I like to drive around the area and see what kinds of things different people are selling.  It's like a roving farmers market/treasure hunt.  Of course it goes without saying that the prices are probably half at these places if not less.  You may not get baby arugula or fresh edamame.  It may not be officially, USDA 100% Certified Organic but come on.  It was grown right back there, in the garden, by the guy down the road.  I'm sure it's fine.  Have a little faith. 


Then BJ Farms decided to open a branch of its popular west side farm stand right down the street from us. 

Rt. 9 Wilton

I was very excited because they have fantastic corn (sold at the local "Hannafords") and I am somewhat of a corn afficionado.  Coming from Ohio I know corn and I know what's good and what's not.  BJ's is good.  Not Ohio good, mind you, but I am biased.

Sweet corn... mmmmmm

So anyway, this is where I got most of my produce this summer.  Wonderful blueberries and melons (to keep my fruit addiction healthy), corn corn corn, tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini.  More on the zucchini to come...

 

So long live the farm stand.  Keep putting those cukes out by the side of the road and I will keep putting my quarters in your coffee can.  Kitty litter and all.


Byeeeee!

Katz On Dogs

This weekend I ventured deep into Washington County, along with my good friend and fellow dog lover, Debra, to attend a reading by Jon Katz.   It was held at a little garden store in Salem, NY near his home, Bedlam Farm.  

 

Gardenworks

It was a charming place selling plants, produce and crafts.

They have pick-your-own too!  (I managed to restrain myself. )

Katz took up writing about dogs when he adopted a troubled border collie.  His books are popular among the dog set and he does a local NPR radio segment "Dog Talk with Jon Katz" every so often which I love listening to.  


If you are interested in reading his books I would recommend the first, A Dog Year.  It has recently been made into a movie starring Jeff Bridges although it hasn't been released yet.  If you've ever even remotely considered getting a border collie this book will bring you back to your senses. 

He talked about his new book Soul of a Dog while his dog, Izzie, made the rounds.  Izzie was so sweet, stopping in front of everyone to get petted.  

Izzie made sure everyone got attention.

 

As soon as his dad started reading, though, it was time for a well-deserved nap.

 This book tour stuff is exhausting!

 

Jon discussed this country's (sometimes unhealthy) obsession with its dogs and how the concept of a dog having a soul is a rather recent development.  It was interesting to hear his take on it as he has quite a pragmatic view of the dog/human relationship.   I got a couple books signed and it was nice meeting him. 

 Jon

Do you think dogs have a soul?  I can't say that I know.

 

Pip contemplating the universe.  Or quite possibly thinking about cheese.

Abu

Today I'm thinking about my Abu who is celebrating her 93rd birthday.  "Abu" is what I call my maternal grandmother.  I called my maternal grandfather "Gung Gung".  Aren't those the best grandparent names ever?


My Abu is an amazing woman.  In short, she grew up in China, went to university (she's wicked smart), managed to escape the Japanese and the Communists and landed in the states circa 1956.  She worked at the United Nations as a statistician (again, wicked smart).  She raised three children, has 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Abu and Gung Gung in China.  Aren't they fabulous? 

 

My Abu taught her two daughters how to cook, knit, sew, crochet, embroider and they are both incredibly skilled and crafty.  My mother has taught me how to do all these things and even though I'm not nearly as skilled and crafty as they, I am now writing a blog about it.  The most amazing thing is that Abu still does all of these things!  Whenever I go home to visit she cooks my favorite dishes (beef tendon stew, tea smoked chicken legs and boatze).  She can knit without taking her eyes off the tv (she loves watching tennis like I do).  She can even walk and knit at the same time.  She plays mahjong every week with "the ladies" and quietly hustles everyone out of their money.  I can't really put into words how important she is to me so I'll just say how lucky I feel to have my Abu in my life and grateful for all the gifts she's passed on to me.


Happy Birthday, Abu!

Fair Day

Where I grew up in Northeastern Ohio the county fair was big. I don't mean large, I mean important. Everyone in town went. We even got a day off school for it, something I didn't think was odd until I went to my fancy eastern college and realized that not everyone got a holiday called "Fair Day", especially not the ones who went to private school. Those poor deprived children!


I mentioned to someone that I thought it was odd that the fairs around here all happened in the summer months where ours was always in the fall. They said that it was probably because a lot of kids participate and they couldn't if they were in school. And I thought to myself, "well, duh, that's what Fair Day is for!" A lot of kids I knew would enter animals in the fair because if you did that you got the whole week off of school! I was bummed I couldn't enter our shih tzu.


Anyway, I'd never been to a fair in upstate NY and this year was the year. I dragged Robiño with me to the Washington County Fair. This is over in Greenwich past Schuylerville and Saratoga Apple where we go donut picking every year. (More on that in the fall).


I took loads of pictures but I'll try to show you just the highlights.
First thing we saw was the antique farm equipment.

Beep beep!

Then we headed over to the animal barns to see the critters.
Piggies!

"Oink."

Cow Cows!

"I'm the sweetest thing ever."

Horsies!

"Hay"

Horse tooshies

Bunnies!

"I'm cute!"

"I'm cuter!!"

"Shut up. I'm twittering."

Sheeps!

"Ba"

  

This sheep was a rare carnivorous breed. Ow.

 

Chickens!

"I'm a punkass."

"I'm a bigger punkass."

"I'm almost a perfect sphere."

Eat Kellogg's Corn Flakes®

There was a duck slide for everyone's amusement:

FYI, that song is called "Yakety Sax" and it makes any clip funny.  Little tip from me to you.

But the best, the BEST, are the goats. Oh how I love goats. They are sweet and curious and have rectangular pupils. I wish I could have a half dozen goats roaming around the yard but I'm not allowed.

 "Hi.  I'm a goat."

This guy was very interested in the Nikon. I think he's into photography.

"Nice camera. Check out my rectangular pupils.'

"I want to eat your brain!"

We wandered around the arcade for a bit. The rides weren't open yet which was fine by us. It was pretty quiet which was nice for walking around.

I found my way into the crafts and homemade barn. After viewing the various knitted and crocheted items I decided that I must enter some crafts in the fair next year. I did not take pictures to protect the innocent... and the guilty. (Isn't that from a tv show?) Anyway, I think I would definitely win the blue ribbon if I entered. No contest. We'll see if that happens.

Here are some winners from the food section:

Best pickled onions

Best pumpkin

Best Non-Descript Creature Made Out of Vegatables?

Sadly, we missed the pig races (must go next year). We did get to see some dog agility. Go Sheltie Go!

Wheeeee!

As for food we managed to stay away from the deep fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich (blurgh) and Giant Cheese Stick.

We shared a corn dog (inhaled before picture could be taken) and a gyro.

How do you pronounce this type of sandwich? There are differing opinions.

We almost got out alive but were stopped dead in our tracks by this:

Eeek!

Burp.

I'm sorry now that I've lived here all this time and never gone to a local fair. If I'd known there were so many cute goats I'd probably have gone a lot sooner. Oh well. I will definitely be going again next year.

(To claim all my blue ribbons!!!!!!!)

Byeeeeee!