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Sunday 15 September 2013

Apple Making Time Once Again ....

It's that time of the year when hubby is busy picking apples and blackberries from the garden.  It really has been a bumper year for the crops we grow, obviously down to the glorious weather that we have had here in Devon this Summer.

A couple of years ago, as so many of our apples were going to waste, hubby decided to buy a small Press and, by doing this, we have fresh apple juice for many years to come.  Here is the Press...


First of all, the apples are taken out of the freezer (we were recommended to do this) to de-frost.  This takes about four hours.  It is important not to let the apples get too soft at this stage, otherwise it doesn't work.




The apples are then put into the Press ....


The pressing process then begins....



The lovely apple juice starts to flow ....


This is what we are left with (which is called the cake).  This will go onto the compost heap at the bottom of the garden.  Preferably with a lid on, because the wasps get very interested in it!


The apple juice is then filtered - hubby's hands ARE clean!



Voila!  Here we have the finished product ....



Now this really is PURE apple juice.  It tastes delicious.  The juice will now be poured into cartons, and then any surplus can be frozen for up to, say, three months.  CHEERS! (I wrote a similar post to this in 2011).

I really love the following quotes, and I hope you will like them too.  I very much try to live my life by them.  My dear mum always used to say "As ye sow, so shall ye reap", and I firmly believe this to be true.

"We must give more in order to get more.  It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest."  (Quote by Orison Swett Marsden).

"Remember to be gentle with yourselves and others.  We are all children of chance and no-one can say why some fields blossom whilst others remain brown beneath the August sun.  Care for those around you.  Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made.  To give is to love, to withold is to wither.  Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared, and your life will have meaning, and your heart will have peace."  (Quote by Kent Nerburn).




17 comments:

Unknown said...

Very interesting blog. Love the pics and the last quote. Your header is beautiful too. Have a blessed Son/Sunday.

Claudia Moser said...

Our season starts soons as well, our press is in the town and you can bring your own apples!

Shady Del Knight said...

Hallo, dear Thisisme, and thank you for this colorful, informative and inspiring post.

First of all, I see you have switched to yet another beautiful header variation. Desiree... where are you?

Secondly, I never thought I'd live to see the day when you'd write the following words: "the glorious weather that we have had here in Devon this Summer." :)

Third, what a fantastic idea to invest in an apple press! Your step by step tutorial was very interesting indeed and the finished product made my mouth water. Take my sage advice: When life gives you apples... make apple juice! :)

Lastly, I appreciate your quotes about giving. You've heard the expression "give till it hurts." Well, I'm still waiting for it to start hurting because the more I give the better it feels.

Happy Sunday to you, dear friend Thisisme. I hope you are over your cold, feeling fine and bathed in Devonish sunshine. Smooches!!!

Unknown said...

Hi Diane, That is fantastic that you can make your own apple juice, I can imagine that it tastes lovely. And you know it's pure apple juice since it's from your own garden. Thank you for showing us the procedure. The weather was very kind to you over there this year. It was ok over here as well, the best summer in many years I'd say. But today it is very windy over here in Dublin, a day to stay indoors indeed. Enjoy your Sunday!

Montanagirl said...

That juice is probably so much better than what we buy in a store!! Love your quotes.

Denise said...

What fun for this time of year. Is this Your hobby or Your husband's?You two have such fun in the garden.I like Your quotes and have never heard the last one-lovely.

BB said...

You never cease to amaze me my awesome friend. Your gardening is much more than just pretty flowers. Apple harvesting and pressing! Tomatoes, berries, etc. etc. Wonderful! I bet that juice is amazing. I love the quotes but I think your Mum said it best!! Hugs!

Suzanne said...

Hi Thisisme! I made it on the same day for a change. How interesting and fun! A cool press, and it makes quite a bit of juice! You and hubby sure are staying busy, and it looks as though your weather is still very lovely.

I enjoy your quotes as you present them, and, your mum was right!
Have a great week, I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon!♥

Shelly said...

Oh, this looks so good, so healthy! A way also to enjoy the remembered sunshine from your lovely summer well into the winter months.

Grammy Goodwill said...

I could almost taste that apple juice from your picture. I was expecting this to be about making apple butter. That was the item made most when I lived in Winchester, VA. Churches did it as a fundraiser. It's an all day affair, stirring the apples in big kettles over open fires. I like to eat mine with a spoon, but most eat it spread it on biscuits!

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

Thanks for explaining this process to us. Now that beats going to a restaurant and ordering manufactured apple juice!

Duncan In Kuantan
Kuantan nature photos

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Diane,
Wow, how wonderful to have your own fresh apple juice☆☆☆ Your wonderful husband is really helpful gentleman. I'd LOVE to taste a glass, I wish I could!!! Apple juice is my favorite♡♡♡

I enjoyed reading your quote. I also LOVE what your mother said, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap". I don't know if it is from bible or not but I sure will keep in my mind!

Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

nikinpos said...

I love this post! I think an apple tree is about the only thing missing from our garden! I bet it tasted fantastico!;-)

Ellie Kings said...

How cool is that?! I'm sure my mama would love one of those. And that is the richest apple juice I've seen yet. I'm sure it's just as tasty. Enjoy!
Ellie K.

Unknown said...

I can almost taste that delicious cider! I didn't realize it was best to freeze the apples and let them defrost a little before sending them through the press. Thank you for the interesting photo story to explain the process.
I also loved the quotes. To withhold is to wither...that one struck my heart. I've had to do that recently for the protection it affords my family and myself. I guess I will just have to give more to another soul and reach out more to those who might need a true friend.

Anonymous said...

Aloot of work. I dislike Cider juice or apple juice. It does not like me.

For those who can drink it.

You got the real thing here.

Wow alott of work even though you have the tool to do it the press.

My Mum used to quote same verse to me.

Scottish, english gals said that all the time.

I am still saying it to my kids and they are in their 4o's. 50s amd 47's.
Tee,hee.


I am sure they will continue to say to their children.

It is true though.

My Mom used to say if you say nasty things about anyone . What goes around can come back to you.

So only say something nice.

So I used to say if I dont like Mrs Jones dress or hair. I shut up.

She said yes honey.

okay.

That way you dont get yourself into trouble.



Unknown said...

I made apple juice once...what a ton of work for such a small result. That was when my kids were allergic to milk and drank apple juice instead. They even put apple juice on their cereal. I decried the government subsidy of the milk producers and wanted the same for apple juice. wow! everything is relative.