U-Pick Neighbor

Today was a crazy day...I just had a lot of family drama going on and thought the day was going to be a total loss, when I saw a beautiful sight. Over the fence in my parent's backyard was draped a heavy branch overflowing with apples. Big green, luscious looking apples! I thought it was too early for most varieties (although I had recently had a little crab-apple on a run) and the apples couldn't possibly be ready, but they looked ready. I walked over and reaching high, plucked an apple from the tree.

As I bit into the apple, the sweet juice almost ran down my chin. It was fantastic! And there were so many more!! I ran to my mom and said, can we pick fruit from your neighbor's yard? Now, this sounds like something that a child would say, I know. And to be honest, I felt a little like a kid asking. But my mom had told me early in the year, when I was eyeing the fruit trees in the yard, that they said she could pick anytime. She has her very own "U-Pick Neighbor".

So we loaded our pockets with plastic bags and headed over. Not only were there dozens more apples to be picked from the green apple tree (taste like Granny Smith, but I'm not sure), there was a lovely tree next to it with green and red medium sized apples. On the other side of the yard was a tree covered with tiny red apples, still with a hint of green. It was so heavy, that it looked like a weeping willow that had been decorated for Christmas!

I began filling my bag, giggling like a little kid. We brought a ladder so that I could reach the fruit on the higher branches. Then on the other side of the yard, I saw yet another tree that was completely filled with pears! The pears were a little too hard, so we had to pass and as I returned to my apples, I saw it... a huge overgrown fig tree! Anyone who's read my blog before knows my love affair with figs, so I was thrilled to be able to get more yummy figs.

At the end, I had at least 6 pounds of assorted apples and more than 5 cups of figs...after splitting 1/2 with my mom! What the heck am I going to do with all these apples? Well, I'm going to start by eating the best out of hand. Next, I'll bake up an apple crisp (better than apple pie because it doesn't have all that fat in the crust and the oatmeal topping adds fiber), then make some fresh whole wheat apple bread, maybe a batch of apple butter...ooh or homemade cinnamon applesauce! I might make some apple and carrot raisin salad, thinly slice an apple with some cheese in a tortilla, or maybe even make a waldorf salad (with reduced fat mayo, of course). If there are any left, I'll just saute them with some sugar and stick them in the freezer for later. You can read my piece on figs (Rosy Bottomed Figs) to get an idea of what I'll do with those delicious fruits.

Apples are high in soluble fiber and are a heart healthy food. They are a good source of potassium. Because they're high in water, along with fiber, they help you feel full longer. Add a little peanut butter and you've got a fantastic afternoon snack.

One important lesson I shouldn't fail to mention...remember your insect repellent! I look like I've got hives there are so many mosquito bites all over my legs. But it was worth it.