A mini-orchard of apple trees at the Minnetrista Cultural Center occupies an area near a gift shop awaiting patrons looking to celebrate the beginning of autumn.
Minnetrista gives an apples and cider tour at 3 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning mid-September until October. Participants tour the factory and have an opportunity to make their own apple cider using a replica of an ancient hand-crank cider press. Participants are allowed to taste their personally made cider and taste test different apples to see the sweetness and tart levels. During the tour, participants will also visit the garden of trees where they will learn about the progression of apple trees and receive a brief history of the orchard.
"It's all done in the spirit of the Ball Family," Visitor Services Manager Tanya Brock said.
The orchard was a Ball Corporation operation, and the cider was around before Minnetrista, Brock said. The apples used at Minnetrista are not a product of the trees on site because a lot of the trees have been dug up for health reasons. Instead, they are shipped in from orchards in the surrounding area. The larger apples are sold in the Orchard Shop, and the smaller apples are pressed for cider.
Brock said one interesting fact about the cider is that it's not pasteurized and there are no additives.
"What's in the cider comes straight from the apple," she said.
Cider, apples and other gifts can be purchased at the Orchard Shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Jellies, dessert toppings and sauces can be sampled in the shop as well.
Minnetrista uses at least five types of apples and a mixture of firm and juicy apples for flavor. This is why they don't press until mid-September, Orchard Shop manager Theresa Coy said. She said they want to make sure they have enough of everything to make the best possible cider.
Recipe
Pies, cider, sauce, fritters - no matter how they're sliced, apples and apple dishes serve as a palatable reminder that autumn has arrived. Try this recipe to celebrate the start of the season.
Apple Pie
Ingredients:
1 unbaked pie crust
Filling:
1 cup sugar1/3 cup flour1 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 teaspoon allspice1/4 teaspoon salt8 cups sliced, peeled and cored apples
Topping:
1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup flour1/2 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp ginger1/4 cup butter
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375-¦F.
2. Mix the filling ingredients and pour into pie crust.
3. Make the topping. Blend the sugar, flour, cinnamon and ginger. Cut in the butter with clean fingers until the mixture is a pea-sized crumble. Sprinkle on top of the apple filling.
4. Wrap foil over the edge of the crust and bake for 50-60 minutes, removing the foil after the first 20 minutes.
Apples & Health
Not only are apples taste bud-approved when sauced, frittered and juiced, they are also doctor-approved for the health of your body. Apples contain fluoride which can help brighten your teeth. Eating an apple before every meal can assist in weight loss. The fiber in apples helps the body to feel fuller faster which can help prevent overeating. Fiber also helps to regulate the digestion system. The natural sugar in apples can help curb the desire for sweets and give the body a natural energy as opposed to an artificial energy boost from unnatural sweeteners.
Uses
Here are a few suggestions from Orchard Shop manager Theresa Coy about when to use certain kinds of apples:
Use: Making cider Apple types: Variety of tart and sweet
Use: Pies Apple types: Macintosh, Jonathan, Cortland, Winesap, Ida Red, Granny Smith
Use: Eating Apple types: Macintosh, Empire, Red Delicious, Bold & Delicious, Jonathan
Types
Red delicious- The Red Delicious apple is a bright red apple with a sweet taste. This apple is good for snacking, salads and freezing. These apples are harvested in the fall and are available year-round.
Gold- The Golden Delicious apple is a sweet, yellow apple that is a staple for all uses. This type of apple is excellent for snacking, salads, pies, sauces, baking and freezing. The Golden Delicious apple is available year-round.
Granny- This green, very tart apple is a favorite for many uses. The Granny Smith apple is excellent for use in snacks, salads, pies, sauces, baking and freezing. This type of apple is available year-round.
Gala- The Gala apple has pinkish stripes over a yellow background. The sweet apple is excellent for snacking, salads and sauces. It is good for pies and baking. It is not a good freezing apple. Gala apples are available September to May.
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