windowshopping: apple pandowdy

Every fall my family and I don our Ralph Lauren's finest (okay, well it's some Ralph, some Runholdz and some OC) and head to the mountains for some old fashioned apple picking. A peck, a bushel, one right off the tree- we have yet to actually "pick" the apples- but one of these years, it will happen. But even if you're like us, arriviving too late in the season to pick or just to late because you're not morning people, there's still plenty to do and a great trip to get out of the freakin city.
We usually choose between Oak Glen or Julian, each unique in their own quaint ways.
Oak Glen can best be described as one winding road with lots of different types of farms dotted along the way. Julian is more of a deserted gold mining town that has found a new life enjoying the old ways.

This year was Oak Glen. The first farm you will see is one of the largest called Parrish Pioneer Ranch and if you're lucky, Yodeling Merle will be playing.
There's a small farm with goats (baby goats!!!), ostrich and ducks. A bakery and general store filled with apple pies, and apple butter, apple pastries, apple fritters, candied apples, apple cider and ...well, apples.

Further down the road is another adorable farm that features mini fresh apple donuts that people drive hours for (well, i know we did). And then even further down from that is a little slice of New England sitting smack dab in the middle of Southern California. Riley Farms. It's kind of ~~adorable~~ (wait, i already used that word). It's so charming! A gorgeous colonial with a farm, creek, restaurant and tavern (aka public house) called the Hawks Head. I mean really, why isn't this closer?
There's is a bunch of reenactment stuff and camps and overnight trips which would be great if you have kids and if you don't.....well, then you need to understand that there has to be A LOT of entertainment for kids out there.
Needless to say is when you get back home the trip doesn't end because now you have figure out what to do with all those apples. Fresh, organic with the only traveling having been done was in your car, the possibilities are endless. So here are some of my top favorites so far this season:
I'm on my fourth version of this Williams Sonoma recipe-