Have you ever heard the saying: "An apple a day keeps the doctor away?"
Okay, how about the story of Johnny Appleseed?
You know, the folk tale where a old boy from Massachusetts spent his lifetime wandering the countryside, planting apple trees so that no one would ever go hungry?
Did you ever hear that story? I did.
I'm not sure that I believed it much past the age of 8 or 9 but when I first heard it at age 6, it seemed like a really cool way to spend your life.
Of course, at that time, I didn't have a real clear understanding of things like living outside...
in the Midwest...in January...
wearing nothing but coffee sacks for clothing like Johnny supposedly did.
I romanced the notion of walking in fields, and along creeks, from spring through fall, planting random trees where ever the conditions were right.
Just strolling merrily along without a care in the world. (and, apparently, no need for shelter, sanitation, or food (other than apples)).
Planting apple trees, thousands of them. Cool, huh?
And certainly plausible to my 6 year old brain but, a couple of years later, not probable...kinda like the tooth fairy...or the the Easter bunny. (You'll notice that I've left Santa off the list. I still believe in Santa...because everyone knows that when you stop believing, you get underwear for Christmas....but I digress...)
No matter how they came to be or what the real story of John Chapman's life, I'm thankful for apple trees.
Especially this time of year.
Especially home made apple sauce and apple pie.
And, at Halloween,
ESPECIALLY, caramel apples!
I looked at some of the fancy caramel apples on the Internet but at prices ranging from $6 to $12 each there's no way so, I made my own.
It's pretty easy. I used Granny Smith apples washed and dried well. Melt pre-made caramels with just a little water then dip the apples in a variety of combinations of toppings: Caramel, chocolate, crushed candy, M&M's, there's really no combination that's not wonderful! Use your imagination. It's fun!
As for which is my favorite, it's probably the plain caramel and peanut apple that's first in this post. Of course, after this year, it might be this beauty...
Caramel apple, dipped in white chocolate and crushed graham crackers; drizzled with white and dark chocolate...and cinnamon....
I'm holding off until tomorrow tonight to eat it.
Happy Halloween!
xo,
I'm sharing this post at:
In the Old Road
Savvy Southern Style
