Apple Picking in Autumn

Photo Courtesy of Samantha Meyers

Autumn, what are the season's favorites that come to mind?  Beautiful colors on the trees. Ahh it’s just breathtaking.   Then there is the brisk air which is refreshing after the warm humid weather of summer.  The last bounty of the summer harvest; tomatoes, squash and delicate basil are enjoyed before they have all but fallen back to sleep until Mother Nature wakes again in the spring. Most of all, there is the fun and frolic of apple picking.

My daughter enjoys apple picking with her friends.  This year, she wanted to invite a small group of friends and have them back at the house for a party afterwards to enjoy their fruity treasures.

She gathered about four of her closest friends from school; most had never been apple picking before.  They piled into our van and I drove them to the local orchard for their apple mission. They are old enough that I can just let them loose on the poor souls of the orchard, this way they were be able to enjoy their independence without adults hovering over them.  I was surprised that they were finished in about an hour.  A romp in the orchard was an activity enjoyed by all.

Since DD wanted to have all her girls back at the house for a bite.  I decided I was going to make it easy on myself and make a Chili/Salad Bar.  Everything was done the night before, chopping, cutting and salad dressing making. Yes, DD and I made four homemade salad dressings.  If you decide to do a salad bar but salad dressing making is not for you, just use good quality bottled dressings. The next day all I had to do was put the ingredients for the chili in the slow cooker in the morning, turn it on and just walk away.  When we got back, the aroma of chili spices permeated all through the house.  Now all that was left was to put out the salad and all the toppings and let the eating commence.  All the “fix'ins” were great for the chili, the salad, if they wanted to make a taco salad or on their own.

I cannot take all the credit for the idea.  It was an inspiration from the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond that sparked this wonderful idea.  I think I will be doing this from now on.  It was easy to prepare and to execute.  I was able to sit back and relax while the girls had a great time picking different toppings and going back for more.  Any leftovers from the salad bar were “re-purposed” for during the week's dinner and lunches.  Maybe next time, I’ll expand and include desert.  Ice Cream sundae bar, who knows?
The picture below shows the spread that we all enjoyed.  

Salad/Chili Bar