fat of the land
On Saturday morning, a warm, clear fall morning, Kevin and I set out for an apple orchard northwest of the city, up near the Wisconsin border. We were barely beyond the city limits and I started to get the same feeling I get every time we take a drive—all wistful and daydreamy about the open spaces, the rolling fields, the squat silos, the quiet.
Gripped with this feeling, without fail, I lean over to Kevin at some point during the drive, bat my lashes and say, all starry-eyed: let’s live off the fat of the land, what do you say?
Kevin, to his credit, generally pats my hand, chuckles and waits for the crazy to pass. You see, we are not the handiest folks and it’s a minor miracle when we manage to keep a pot of geraniums alive for a mere 12 weeks a year. A working farm, sadly, is just not in the cards for us. Still it’s a lovely fantasy—involving a chicken coop with fresh eggs and lots of time to knead my own bread and bake fresh pies.
The orchard trip, of course, only fueled the fantasy. There were neat rows of apple trees, short and stocky and bedecked with their crimson crop. There was a patch of raspberry bushes, shorter still, limbs heavy with the late season fruit. There was a corn field, full of golden stalks much taller than me. There were bees zipping amid the fruit. There were tractors and a pole barn and what I think was an old fashioned cider press. In short, it was a fat of the land jackpot.
Of course, like all good day dreams, this one eventually met its reality when we loaded our haul (a peck of apples and a pint of raspberries) into the car and headed back to the city. Once we got home, I promptly made two rounds of pie dough, stashed them in the fridge and set to peeling a good portion of the apples we’d picked. Before sunset, I was pulling an apple pie—golden and sparkly, puffed and stuffed with those apples—out of the oven. If we were living off the fat of the land, the pie would be set on a well-worn sideboard beneath an open kitchen window to cool. In our urban reality, though, the pie cooled on the edge of our rooftop deck. Set against a plunging sun and the twinkle of city lights, it wasn’t such a bad reality after all.
But, hey!, what about the pie? Well, here’s the deal: I’m a terrible tease. I’ve got dozens of pie photos and a stellar recipe to share with you. But it will have to wait until next time. Does Saturday work for you? See you then! I suggest you have some pie dough at the ready.
13 comments so far. »
| Leave a Reply
I made an apple pie yesterday that turned out awesome. I finally managed to make my own pie dough (for the first time!)
Which orchard did you do to? I have a car in the city so I could use a little excursion.
Your photos are so gorgeous Kristin! This post makes me smile. I’m going to drag my husband apple picking this weekend so I’ll be looking forward to your pie recipe
I would love to know what orchard that is….the one i went to last year was way way too carnival-like and I’m dying to go to a great one. (i’m in chicago)
Whitney & JRR: We went to Prairie Sky Orchard. JRR, I know what you mean about the carnival. This one was not like that all. It could’ve been because we got there right when they opened (we were the only “customers” there for most of the time) or because it was early in the season. But I think it’s a pretty low-key place in general. It’s pretty close, too, and there’s some non-major highway driving, which I love.
Tracey: Thank you! I’ll be here with bells on (and pie recipe) on Saturday!
I have that same farm fantasy, but can barely keep a tomato plant alive. Here’s to the dream!
Can’t wait for the apple pie recipe…
Hi — Two weeks ago we were traveling in Virginia and I saw a farm boasting of apples. We drove up to the orchard and found out that it involved picking your own apples. We got started and my husband confessed that he had never picked apples before! I have been married 18 years + 5 years dating and never knew this. He had a great time and I am still making apple treats (including a failed apple cake last night).
You are a great story teller and you always do make me miss the midwest (MN and WI). Enjoy your apples!
GREAT pictures… and I’d love to have some pie dough ready for a first-of-the-fall apple pie… but I need a beautiful pie dish like yours… would you indulge and tell us where it’s from?
Your photography is fantastic! These pictures brought many memories of apple picking to my mind’s eye. The other memories include apple pie, apple cake, apple bread, apple crisp, applesauce and the recipe for a cast iron skillet upside down apple cake that I saw for the first time earlier this week. Thanks! Can’t wait to visit our local apple orchard and make some of these memories come true again this year.
Absolutely love the last urban American Dream photo. Pulls on my heartstrings as a former country girl now baking pies in NYC. Wonderful
Saturday works for me because then I’ll be able to go to the store and get the ingredients.
I have a similar “living off the land” fantasy that crops up (no pun intended) at least a few times a month. Have you ever watched that PBS show “Frontier House?” When I told my husband that I wanted to try out for the show, he just smiled and said, “okay, honey. Have fun with that!” Needless to say, we haven’t joined the cast just yet.
I have that same pie dish. So pretty. Looking forward to your apple pie recipe.
Kristen: Hear! Hear!
Kelly: Thank you! And sorry about the failed apple cake.
Kara: Thanks! It’s an Emile Henry pie plate — a gift from my mom.
Bingo: Thanks! Those recipes sound wonderful.
Amy: I love that — “Urban American Dream.” thanks for leaving a note.
Tabitha: It’s a date!
Dawn: Oh, I am definitely going to have to look into that show! Perhaps we could all audition together? : ) I had my eye on the pie plate for a long time before my mom surprised me with it at Thanksgiving last year. I was the designated pie maker for the weekend and the plate was my compensation.
Oh man, I wish I was there! I haven’t been apple picking since ’05, and I miss it terribly!! I look forward to your apple pie pictures!
Trackback this Article | Subsribe to Comments