Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Sweeter Than Candy


Wooo, it’s been quiet on this little blog of mine. I am trying to figure out what I am going to be when I grow up, you see. This takes time. My internship is up in a month. If I don’t get a job before then, my butt is going to be a) unemployed or b) folding sweaters at the Gap. And I hate the Gap. I do, with a passion. The job applications and my current work are taking up all of my time, leaving nothing for sleep, much less blogging or the gym. My ever-tighter pants are testament to this. Sigh. They shrank in the wash, I swear.

Though I suppose that all the food related activities around New England in the fall could have something to do with my tightening pants. Autumn in New England is apple picking season. There are loads of farms around Boston growing multiple varieties of apples on short little mutant apple trees that you don’t need a ladder to pick from – standing on your tippy toes will get you to the top of most trees on these farms.


And these trees were loaded with apples. They covered the branches and spilled out on to the ground in a thick red layer. Apples on the ground were no better than banana peels in cartoons when it came to slipping and falling on your rear, but the smell they gave off was stunning, for a yuppie such as myself – like fresh, slightly fermented cider with a smell of grass and farm mixed in. It was intoxicating.


The apples themselves were marvelous. I can’t for the life of me remember which type of apples they were – either Macoun or MacIntosh. Alls I know is that thin bright red skin gave way to blindingly white, juice packed flesh. There is absolutely nothing like the experience of biting into an apple you just pulled off a tree. It's still alive and full of moisture and warmth from the sun and the tree. You can still see that the stem end is moist and green, still alive, still capable of pushing sweet fluid to the fruit from the tree. You don’t get freshness like this in stores. It’s an entirely different experience. The amount of juice in these apples was shocking, watermelon level juiciness, with the sweet juice running down your chin. Better, and sweeter than candy.


The apples weren’t as sweet as the apple cider donuts though, another mainstay of New England autumn. These donuts are spiced with cinnamon and apple cider. The ones at Boston Hill Farm were freshly fried, still warm and crisp, yielding to sweet and spiced on the inside. Unbelievable, New England fall taste.


Did I mention that most of the jobs I am applying to are in London? Yes, London. The UK kind. I will miss New England autumns, if I am lucky enough to make it across the ocean. My fingers, and my toes, are crossed.




7 comments:

Anonymous said...

yay! a new post! so happy when my netvibes picked it up. as you know, my fingers and toes are crossed as well... but, i am missing the apple picking and fall foods across the ocean. i had to explain pumpkin pie to my lab the other day and they were thoroughly confused... i think a cider donut would also thoroughly help my hangover though :)

Anonymous said...

good luck with the job search. unfortunately it is not a good time to be looking! at least there will always be those freshly picked apples. I live across the street from an apple orchard. those cider donuts are one of the best parts of fall. keep up the good work

JC said...

OK, I have to admit that your post made me think of a line from a Beastie Boys song: "Her pants are tight and that's OK"!

Those apples sound amazing. I've been on a big apple kick the last few months. Shooting for one a day. Keeping the doctor away and whatnot. I've had Braeburns, Pink Ladies, Royal Galas, Cameos, and Honeycrisps. I've been amazed at how sweet some of them are. I bet none of them are as good as the ones you had right off the tree though. You did an amazing job describing them!

No, not the Gap!

London, eh? The land of spotted dick. That would be really cool! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

I've never been that enamored with apples. Unless they're in a crumble. Everything is better in a crumble. Obviously, I use the term 'everything' very loosely.

There's always (the) Gap in London? How's about that for a compromise? Awesome, good luck with the job hunt!

Anonymous said...

Good luck! I'm excited at the news of posts from London. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Palmiro Poltronieri said...

Goof Heaven, Anna,
so there is a chance you become affiliate of the London hub? Great!
It will add a new job experince, and also tales of your explorationsof ethnic food restaurants...
Good luck!
Palmiro

Cherry said...

beautiful pictures. I love the distinct seasons New England has - I feel like eating an apple now!