apple picking at frecon farms

Frecon Farms has always had a sweet spot in my heart. Situated in my hometown, apples were a major part of my diet — well, that and the fact that I worked my mid- to late-teens across town in another prosperous apple-focused company, at Bauman's Apple Butter.

So, ever since B and I started dating, I've raved about all things apples, apple butter, apple cider. I mean, the word "apples" are in my blog's name — you get it. But, we've never actually went apple-picking, which happens to be a popular sport around Berks County, especially for any Boyertownian.

Taking all of the above into consideration, B and I hit Frecon's on the first day of their  pick-your-own season — which debuted two weeks earlier this year due to the warm winter we had along the East Coast. Since it was the fresh end of pick-your-own, only McIntosh, Gala and Jonathans were deemed pickable in the vast orchards, but we had no beef with that, and each made out like bandits.

Scenes from our fall-infused excursion are viewable below.

Learn all you need to know on picking your own at Frecon Farms of Boyertown, Pa. by clicking here. You can also PYO pumpkins — which, I'm gearing up to do just that very soon.

sip of the season: bauman's apple cider

( also published here, at news, not blues. head over there to enter yourself in a drawing for a FREE gallon of the best pressed cider around! )

It's that tantalizing time of year again—where wooden crates are crowded with an overflow of just-picked scarlet, yellow, and green apples, stacked snugly into pick-up trucks and shipping cars from as far as Maryland, and soon, packed into Bauman's Apple Butter factory, of Sassamansville, where their cider mill produces the freshest pressed cider.

From September to December, their presses are plopped with the fruit's brilliant spectrum of fall colors, producing the rich, golden drink around the clock, Monday through Friday, including evenings, and on Saturday mornings, too.

The local, yet nationally-known, family-business first premiered over a century ago, in 1892 by John W. Bauman, who first purchased a cider press and appropriately operated it with a steam engine that was nestled inside his carriage manufacturing shop. Quickly, the apple-intensive side project replaced Bauman's carriage cobbling, as it continued to be mastered throughout the family line—now owned and operated by his grandson, Harvey and his wife, Kathy.

 

With the capabilities to press over a thousand gallons of cider a day, the Bauman family takes advantage of their production space and, as their name assumes, additionally produces a wide array of apple and fruit butters in beautifully intoxicating quantities.

Notorious for their low-fat, health-conscious jarred creations of naturally rich-and-sweet spreads, the entire process begins through their flash pasteurized apple pressing, with the tastes of the juices always important, for a substantial portion is used within their apple butter.

The autumnal routine, in simplest terms, starts with dozens upon dozens of apples being flooded in from an outdoor chute, which allows them to be barreled indoors, becoming finely chopped and then squeezed in the generously-sized press, extracting the apples' juices. Immediately, the cider is pumped into refrigerated tanks, where it then will be stored and bottled.

Of course, apple butter making is more extensive than cider making, and is jumpstarted by waltzing whole apples into waist-high cooking barrels and stewing cider among the rosy rounds, for about four hours. Eventually, the darkened fruit creation is screened, removing apple skins, stems, and seeds, and cooked for additional hours to hone in the perfected taste and texture.

The marveled Montgomery County business also bravely acts as a warehouse, a bottling and jarring factory, and distribution center, allowing the bauman family and their trusted employees to maintain their business at a one-stop-shop—and yes, there's a country store, too.

As a local, rural enterprise praising pure, all-natural creations from the season's sweet and savory fruit, there is no better way to toast your autumn day away than with a flooded glass of Bauman's Apple Cider, perfectly paired aside a wheat cracker topped with a dollop of apple butter—fall's finest creations found victoriously in your backyard.

Bauman's Pennsylvania Dutch Apple Butter is located at 116 Hoffmansville Road in Sassamansville and can be visited during operating in-season hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Besides apple butter and cider, their inventory is packed with homemade butters found in flavors like pumpkin, pear, peach, apricot, strawberry-rhurbarb, and sweet tomato. Visit Bauman's online at www.baumanfamily.com or by phone at 610.754.7251.

caramel and candy, an apple's best friend

Finally, autumn has arrived and for a girl who fiends off of the best of the season, my always-Starving Marvin persona couldn't be any more pleased to be gushing over the just-picked apples, gorgeous arrays of pumpkin beer, coffee, breads and pies, and of course, all set in the incoming crisp fall air.

And, although I blab about sweet treats regularly on this blog, and as my blog name assumes, I love apples, I honestly never crunch down on such caramel or candy concoctions. Actually the last time, prior to these autumn-appropriate shots, was when I was a wee lil' one.

B encouraged this recent sugar-coated chow session, and I could have not been any more pleased. However, next time I promise you, I will be the one dunking these darling nut balls for many to enjoy!

classic apple dumplings of a country-styled bakery

 

Being raised in the midst of Pennsylvania Dutch Country into two full-bred families, I've had my fair share of legitimate traditional sweet treats. While I could blab about the pie that is quite possibly, the sweetest of the bunch — the circles of shoo fly— I value the baked balls of apples the most.

Apple dumplings are a staple in the Strauss house and something I have come to perfectly attempt, time and time again. Honestly, I may not be a proclaimed professional just yet, but I can confess that my tastebuds have devoured toasty chomps from many experienced bakers, especially in the heartland of Lancaster County and also on its brims.

This evening after trekking through Emmaus, I spotted a petite bakeshop on its main street, one that easily peaked my sweet teeth. An Italian-styled bakery, I Love Louie's specializes in desserts similar to what grandmother would have sweetly prepared, as well as area-appropriate classics.

Of course, I couldn't step outside its sugary scented interior without picking up one of the prettiest apple dumplings. And, after indulging in its warmed cinnamon-sprinkled bites crusted in a buttery flake crust, I may love Louie, too.

I Love Louie's Bakery, 4033 Chestnut St., Emmaus, PA 610-965-2999

berks county apple branches have begun to blossom

Berks County, Pennsylvania is the breeding ground for a delightful assortment of fresh-picked apples. Although I have months to impatiently wait for our local varieties, my nearby backwoods' branches have begun to bare the blossoms that hint to toward one of my most favored treasures. Here's my peek!

an ode to apples and cheese, please

As an obvious lover of apples and cheese, it seems very appropriate to share the above artist's representation of my top food love!

Sketched by Cakespy, the Seattle-based illustrator and freelance writer, food blogger and exceptional baker, Jessie Oleson regularly produces food-friendly images paired with quirky edible-and-informational tidbits.

The Queen of cupcake love, she also sells sassy screen prints of her cake spies, including the top-notch investigator, Cuppie. I happily obtained a tee a few months back, detailing hipster baked goods waiting for the subway in the super-hip Williamsburg neighborhood of New York City.