Random Musings - Mostly Apples
We live in a rented house. Our garden contains two wizened old
apple trees and two gnarly pear trees. All four seem to produce
fruit with different flavours, but I couldn't tell you which
varieties they are. Apart from apple and pear, naturally.
Every year we watch the fruit being attacked by critters whilst still small, and then rot on the tree, or otherwise go to waste because although I like pie, there's only so much I can eat in a year.
The late frosts this year killed off most of the pear blossoms or their pollinators, but we have a glut of sweet, juicy, un-attacked apples. They splash when they hit the ground.
In response, Him Indoors would like to collect what is left and make a Beverage. However, since his op to repair a dislocated shoulder, I'm having to do all the hard work!
I spent yesterday cutting up great chunks of wood to make a press with an awesomely sharp new saw - my, how satisfying it feels simply to saw up lumps of wood! Eddie got that right. One bit of advice though - never let a one-armed man do the measuring and marking - you'll end up with one log 10mm shorter than the other. Still, I'm sure a bit of wonky wood won't ruin the cider. We've been making it in England since Roman times I believe - I'm sure quite a lot of folk got by with wonky tools back then. After all that cider, they probably couldn't measure straight either!
Any hints and tips you lovely folk have would be most appreciated!
Every year we watch the fruit being attacked by critters whilst still small, and then rot on the tree, or otherwise go to waste because although I like pie, there's only so much I can eat in a year.
The late frosts this year killed off most of the pear blossoms or their pollinators, but we have a glut of sweet, juicy, un-attacked apples. They splash when they hit the ground.
In response, Him Indoors would like to collect what is left and make a Beverage. However, since his op to repair a dislocated shoulder, I'm having to do all the hard work!
I spent yesterday cutting up great chunks of wood to make a press with an awesomely sharp new saw - my, how satisfying it feels simply to saw up lumps of wood! Eddie got that right. One bit of advice though - never let a one-armed man do the measuring and marking - you'll end up with one log 10mm shorter than the other. Still, I'm sure a bit of wonky wood won't ruin the cider. We've been making it in England since Roman times I believe - I'm sure quite a lot of folk got by with wonky tools back then. After all that cider, they probably couldn't measure straight either!
Any hints and tips you lovely folk have would be most appreciated!
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9 Comments
I have made a great big vat of apple sauce. I'm now out of sugar.
A quick google search has thrown up a few brewing shops local, so I'm sure we could order some stuff online. I'll keep you posted as to how well it goes!
Knowing our landlords, though, we'll probably end up with a telling-off. Plus the gardener has already 'pruned' the trees and made off with a few branches of apples. I fort trees should be pruned before or after fruiting? Hmm...
Just thought anyone with a bit of experience on here might like to share tales of joy or woe!
Ah Steve, a man after my own pint. Get yer own!
I did bring some back from a small press in the west country when I went to visit my folks. So we won't go thirsty if it's all a big disaster!
I've already ruined a pan making toffee/caramel so I'm not sure I'd be allowed at it again. Not that I really like toffee. I just make it for other people. I'm nice like that... :-O
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