. Bright Meadow Farms: Contest: Apple pie border!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Contest: Apple pie border!

We have had a string of several weeks of near-perfect weather here - crisp, warm, sunny, dry days, and cooler evenings. The apples are going to be ripe soon and I am looking forward to a weekend trip to our farm to collect bushels and bushels of apples.


I am feeling generous, and to celebrate the beginning of apple pie season, I am hosting a contest, the prize being two strips of wallpaper border, totalling 10 yards, in Chesapeake pattern FAM24501B. I had originally ordered it for my kitchen but since I have a very "busy" kitchen with 6 spice racks and lots of canisters, we finally elected NOT to put it up. It is still in the original package.


What do you think is the most important ingredient in apple pie? You might identify the variety of apples used, the special way you make the crust, or the proportion of spices, or anything else that makes your pie "special".
I will select from the comments attached to this post to award the winner on September 30.

16 comments:

Kim Campbell said...

Hi, hon!
Thanks for visiting my live journal blog. I have another one too.
Kim

Washington Crunchy Mama said...

The most important ingredient is, of course...love :)

I'm 34 years old and have yet to make an apple pie, simply because my Mom makes the best and I am convinced it's the love that makes it so.

Thanks for stopping by my blog, have a lovely day!

Tina Leavy said...

o.k. I just had to come look at this apple pie border..and I love it! gosh..you might inspire me to redo my kitchen wall border! this is so cute!
In an apple pie..I always have to put cinnamon..lots of it..I love the taste of warm cinnamon-ed apples.

Unknown said...

Hey Brenda, thanks for visiting my herbal farmstead blog, I"ll be adding yours to my list there! I love this idea for a contest, my favorite ingredient is cinnamon, just makes the pie perfect!

Alta said...

Oh how this brings back memories of my dad and his delicious apple pies. My dad had several ingredients that made it so delicious. His main ingredient was the love that he put into every bite. Another of his special ingredients was his passion for making those apple pies from scratch. And last but not least was the cast iron skillet that he baked them in.
Thank you for reminding me that the main ingredient to anything delicious that we make is made with love and memories.

Kay-The Rustic Cottage said...

Brenda -- thanks for stopping by my blog. I'd be happy to ad your blog to my links! And I LOVE the wallpaper border! It just says Fall to me! Have a great day.

Hugs,
Kay

Unknown said...

Hi Brenda!!

I think the most important ingredient in Apple Pie is imagination. I don't ever use a recipe so my pies never come out the same twice. Sometimes there is clove involved, other times there is just cinnamon. Sometimes I get nutsy and use all of my mulling spices! It's never the same. Breaking the rules with food is fun and takes quite a bit of imagination and bravery....on the baker's part as well as the family that eats it.

What a fun contest!! Thanks for inviting me!!

2 LMZ FARMS said...

It's that secret ingredient that goes into making pies. It's the time you take to roll out the crust, to peel the apples and slice, it's the time you spend in prayer while doing all these, it's using fresh and homegrown ingredients, plus using apple pie spice, but manily it's just your time and love for your family that goes into making apple pie. Hope you and yours have a blessed day.
Laura

Shari Thomas said...

I'm not a real pie maker... just a top-notch pie eater.

My favorite apple pie is piled high with thick-sliced apples. I really prefer any variety that holds it's shape.

Then there's the crust. I want it flaky, and cooked completely on the bottom. Now, if you make me a "Dutch Apple Pie" with the crumb top, I'll be your friend forever.

I'm a big butter fan, and it doesn't hurt to add just a touch of brandy.

For the Dutch Apple, top it with some French Vanilla ice cream and I'm in heaven.

For a change of pace, I even like a slice of really sharp cheddar cheese melted onto the top of a traditional apple pie.

Can ya' tell I love pie?

Alpicks Treasures said...

Hi Brenda, Thanks for the invite to your blog. Thats such cute wall boarder, its a shame you cant put it up, Cute.. I made Apple Cobbler from some apples here in town and it was my first time making it, Did not come out to good..

Aunt Jenny said...

Oh Yum...apple pie!! I think the most important thing in my apple pie is my crust is made with butter..yum!! And I love the spices (cinnamon and nutmeg) that I use in my filling..and brown sugar for sure!!
What a fun looking border..I love it!!

Day4plus said...

Well, it looks like everybody said it best. We all like apple pie--yes indeed. To me the crust is very important (I make the best)(slight pat on the back) and the crisp,sweet/ tart apples--I like Gravenstein--so many things go into it but the fun of making it for the family makes it turn out best. MB

Katie said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I added a post to the old photo that you commented about; check it out if you can.

I am not a big pie baker. I make two a year: pumpkin for Thanksgiving, and lemon meringue sometime in the summer. Can't remember the last time I made an apple pie. Usually apple crisp is my thing in the fall. But after reading these comments, oh YUM! May have to bake three pies this year!

Anonymous said...

I'm fond of the buttery taste in apple pie...oh, adn my favorite ingredient to add is the ice cream scoop after its all made :)

CountryintheBurbs said...

Hi Brenda,

I love your blog! I think the most important thing or ingredient in an apple pie is the care you put into making one. I can't rush my pies since I am very picky about how they turn out. I also use nice crisp apples and always put that pat of butter right in the middle of the apples and extra cinnamon before I roll the crust over the top! Yum! Ok, I want apple pie now...lol I guess I need to go cut up some apples!!

larkspur funny farm said...

We do things a little different at the Funny Farm. Apple pie around here is baked in a brown paper sack. This may make you nervous at first but trust me it keeps the apples crisp and browns the pie to perfection. Also, I like a cruble top crust that way when the juice bubbles is slightly carmelizes the top which makes it not only taste out of this world but makes a great presentation. Make sure your you use real vanilla, fresh cinnamon and I add nutmeg to give that fall taste. Enjoy and keep laughing because life is better with a joke. Grace