Apples, Apples and More Apples

As summer gives way to Fall, I couldn't be happier. Fall is my favorite season. I love the leaves, the cool breeze and the pumpkin everything! Besides, little kids are sensitive to the heat, so cooler weather means more outdoor fun! All that said-- we couldn't miss apple picking season!

I'm a big fan of Eastmont Orchards for apple picking. They are the orchard right by Delicious Orchards (one of the most AMAZING places for super fresh produce and INCREDIBLE pies)--both located in the greenery of Colts Neck, NJ. I've been apple-picking here before the baby so I knew how the day would pan out.

The weather was beautiful and we met some friends with twins the same age as my boy. After parking and paying the small entrance fee, you are face to face with their little pumpkin patch first. Bub loved running through the pumpkins and trying to pick up the biggest ones he could find with all sorts of sound effects. I wasn't ready for stoop pumpkins yet, but let him pick a little one to bring home with us when we passed it again on the way out.

A short walk away, we found the rows of apple trees. I brought the stroller, which handled the terrain really well. My stroller has a nice area for storage underneath which was helpful. Once we got to the apples, I picked a few small ones and handed them to the baby who immediately declared "Ap-pe" (apple). He loves holding anything that seems like a ball so he was happy to hold onto the apples.

Then I took little man out of the stroller to see if I could get him to pick some apples on his own. And he did! He was so proud of being able to pull his own apple off the tree! I had to guide him away from picking anything that looked yucky, green or was on the ground-- but I definitely expected that. He loved carrying apples over to mommy's bag and building our collection to take home. I forgot a bag that day and bought one when I paid admission.

I think an important thing to note about apple picking is that it is a quick experience. Don't expect it to take a lot of time-- and if you stay too long, you'll have more apples than you know what to do with! Also, have a few recipes planned to use all the apples that you bring home. I enjoy making a big batch of soft cinnamon apples in the crockpot to serve hot with vanilla ice cream all week. But plan to do pies, applesauce and whatever you'd like so you don't just watch your apples go bad.

We followed up our apple picking with a trip to the Delicious Orchards store where I stocked up on all my favorite salad veggies and their amazing oatmeal cookies which the bubs snacked on while I shopped. Aside from a downpour happening just as we were leaving the store and packing the car, the trip was perfect! And so were our slow cooker apples and ice cream!