3 Places you can go to pick Apples in Durham region

DURHAM – There are still three farms in Durham Region where you can go to pick your own apples.

Frost damaged apple crops at some area farms, which were forced to cut back on apple picking hours this season.

According to Durham’s tourism department, here are three local farms where you can go and pick apples.

PINGLE’S FARM MARKET

The market is at 1086 Taunton Rd. in Clarington. The farm is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Apple-picking season runs until the end of October. The farm also offers pick-your-own raspberries and pumpkins and features an eight-acre maze. Phone 905-725-6089. On the web at www.pinglesfarmmarket.com

Try this recipe from Pingles:

Apple snow

Put all ingredients inside the blender and blend until it looks like apple snow. Eat with a spoon. Servings – 2

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups apple cider
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 cups cracked ice

ARCHIBALD’S ORCHARDS AND ESTATE WINERY

The orchard is at 6275 Liberty St. N. in Bowmanville.  Archibald is a fourth-generation family farm business that also features a winery and a nine-hole golf course that winds through the orchard. Phone 905-263-2396.

Because of the frost during blossom time, the crop is down 80 per cent. Apple picking is only available weekends and not every weekend. Archibald opens Sept 19 with McIntosh, Honey Crisp, Cortland, Gala and Empire apples available. Apples not available this season are Ida reds, Red delicious, Macouns and Spartans. Check the website for apple picking times as they could change day to day. On the web at www.archibaldswinery.com

Try this recipe from Archibald’s:

Grandma Brubacher’s apple crumble pie

Apple filling

• 5-7 tart apples (depending on size) peeled, cored and sliced
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon. Mix in apples. Pour into unbaked pie shell.

Crumble topping

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/4 cup butter

Combine sugar and flour. Cut in butter to make mixture crumbly. Don’t overwork. Sprinkle crumble mixture over the apples, making sure that you reach the edges.

Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Then 350 for approximately 30 minutes or until pie is bubbling at edges.

WATSON FARMS

The farm is at 2287 Regional Rd. 2 (Hwy. 2) in Bowmanville. The farm offers different varieties of apples for picking throughout the season. Currently, Mac and gala apples are available for picking. Empire and Cortland apples will be available by Sept. 23. The farm also offers pick-your-own strawberries. Tractor rides to pick your own run holidays and weekends. Hours at the farm for picking your own apples are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Phone the market at 905-623-9109. You can also call 905-623-7252 for a crop report. On the web at www.watsonfarms.ca.

Try this recipe from Watson:

Baked apples with honey

• 1 large red apple per person
• 1 container of ground cinnamon
• 1 small bag of brown sugar
• Small amount of butter
• Honey

Wash apples. Cut hole in top of apple with apple corer or knife. Clean hole out with a spoon and stuff hole with brown sugar. Set apples in a baking dish and sprinkle cinnamon on top. Add a small slice of butter on top of each apple.

In a baking dish, add a small amount of water to keep apples from drying up while baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Remove from pan and drop a teaspoon of honey on top of each apple just before serving.