The Historical Society’s Cider Day Festival celebrating “all things apple” is approaching. I meant to discuss (and will, later) the wonderful offerings planned at the Historical Park for Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10:00 to 2:00, but that discussion was derailed by a last-minute visit to the Old Post Office where I found workers busily sifting and sorting.
I was greeted with, “I found some things you might be interested in for your column.” These folks have supplied me with enough potential column topics to last my current lifetime, as well as my next. I was handed two folders. One labeled “Apple Carving” looked fun, and I made a mental note to get half a dozen apples for a carving adventure.
Once prepared, I opened the folder to find several illustrated pages instructing “How To Create an Apple Doll.” I was intrigued. I’ve made several spiced apple sachets at Christmastime. (Just poke cloves into a small apple until your thumbs bleed, encase the apple in netting, and attach a festive ribbon for hanging in the closet). But carve a face into an apple? That takes skill. “Just follow these six easy steps,” promised the directions. Sure, I thought, sounds sticky.
First, some constructive advice: crisp apples like Gala or Granny Smith work best, but any kind will do. Uh huh, sticky and gooey. Then the illustrated directions:
1. Peel a medium-sized apple.
2. Using a paring knife, carve away small pieces to form eye brows, eyes, nose and mouth. This is why I need six apples, just in case I slice off a nose or brow. It further recommends adding some little cuts and dents in the surface. Egad! Face-maiming? Really?
3. Once your creation looks the way you want, quit. Here, the sheer lack of instructional detail cut me to the core.
4. Stir a tablespoon of salt into a cup of lemon juice.
5. Soak the apple in the solution for at least 30 minutes.
6. Dry your creation in a warm oven (100˚) for a couple of hours, turning a few times to avoid a gooey underside. After two hours of baked apple aroma, I’ll be fighting the urge to devour this character! The next directions advise letting the apple dry further – for several days. When it is dry enough, it should resemble an old woman. And now, my curiosity is definitely piqued: will this apple character really look like me? I can’t wait to find out!
All kidding aside, do head for the Historical Park at 4610 Robb St. on the Second Saturday morning, with your clean containers. Bring apples if you have them. We always have bushels donated, though, for folks who don’t have an apple source. You’ll leave with fresh, aromatic cider that tastes great right out of the jug and even better chilled.
While at the park you can enjoy live music, try your hand at old-timey games and watch demonstrations of how pioneer women “put up” apples by making sauce, peeling apples and drying slices. When you’ve made the rounds and enjoyed samples, be sure to tour the museums, which have been re-imagined to tell a century-long story from the 1850s to the 1940s.
