Harvest journal: pressing apples

We pressed almost 14 gallons of apple cider this past weekend. We could press that much more if we picked all the apples from our trees. We have neither the space nor the desire. Cold weather has finally come.

We started with the Harralsons. Michael had picked a bunch and we pressed all that he picked, so we picked some more.

The Middle Grand Girl lent a helping hand throughout the process. The OGG (original grand girl) woke up with a stiff neck, so mostly watched.

By the end of day, she felt well enough to pick her favorite pumpkin and haul it away. Michael has since transferred the squash and pumpkins into their basement home for the winter. The next day (yesterday), Michael and I pressed another 5 gallons of Honey Crisp. The cider is now gently fermenting away, except for the juice we kept to drink immediately.

We celebrated the end of cidering with some pear cider (it is fizzy!), kielbasa, potato dumplings, and sauerkraut.

I made my kimchi and delivered some to a friend. She shares my love for duck liver pate and spicy food. I’ve been having kimchi with my egg and toast for breakfast every day. I added some of my leeks to the mix this year. Mmmmmmm.

Fall, in all its glory.