Apple Juice, Cider and Happy Chickens

 

 

The big old apple tree is chucking apples at us at a rate of knots.  We gather the windfalls every day, leaving a few for the passing deer that seem to like to take a bite as they wander through our land.  I feel a bit guilty for fencing off all the veggie beds (but not guilty enough that I would take the fences down just yet!!) so an apple or two will keep them going as they pass on their way to the woods and wilder pickings.

 

The others we fetch back to the house and leave in big baskets in the utility room until we have enough for a pressing session.  Then it's all hands to the deck (I am married to a sailor you know!) for a chopping and squishing time.

 

 

 

My main role is to blitz the quartered apples in the food processor, this makes for a much quicker and juicier press.  Time consuming but easy to do.

 

 

 

Lovely Hubby manfully mans the press, turning it tighter and tighter until all the juice pours out in a very satisfying trickle.  His bucket fills up with lovely brown apple juice and the smell is delicious.

 

 

 

It's nice to see a man happy in his work.

 

 

 

 

And so he should be, we've now got three demi-johns of cider on the go and around eight bottles of pure apple juice.  Delightfully tasty chilled and then diluted with sparkling water.  A glass each evening with our tea makes all the hard sticky work more than worthwhile.

 

And the squished apples don't go to waste either the chickens absolutely love them and you can't beat a happy chicken!!

 

Sue xx