Sharlotka

 FALL

Yowza, where did the summer go? We had such a mild summer this year compared to the last few years that were unbearably hot for weeks on end. This year summer in Colorado was warm, beautiful and oh so lovely, and now fall is here with old man winter fast approaching.
But I will strive to practice the be present philosophy of yoga. Rather than allow my mind to dwell on thoughts of the coming snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures, I will instead try to be in the moment of each and every glorious day the fall season has to offer.
Gone for now are the juicy peaches from the Western Slope, the addictive sweet corn from Olathe, Colorado, sun ripened tomatoes, and lazy summer evenings under warm, starry skies.  These fleeting pleasures are now replaced by one of  the many delicious gifts that comes with fall, apples. Apples, in their vast array of flavors and varieties become the versatile fruit that help ease our sense of loss for a summer now past.
Colorado is not typically thought of as an apple producing state as is New York or Washington, so it may come as a surprise to many that Colorado's climate is actually ideal for growing apples.
Apple trees need a combination of hot and cold weather to produce fruit, making them a natural for our state. Most apple trees like to have a minimum of 600 hours below 40 degrees during the winter to encourage them to set fruit. Then they need at least five or six hours of full sun a day once they've blossomed.
Apple trees also blossom later than some other types of fruit trees making them more likely to avoid an April killing frost. Add to that fact is that many types of apple trees are hardy to about 8,000 feet or growing zone 4 therefore most Coloradans have the perfect prescription for a bountiful apple harvest. There are several varieties that do very well, but some should be avoided as their maturity date is later and you risk loosing your crop to an early freeze. The varieties that do well in Colorado are: Red and Yellow Delicious, Mackintosh, Gala, Honey-Crisp, Cortland, Granny Smith, and Jonathan to name a few.
There are plenty of orchards in Colorado where you can pick your own apples and even press your own cider. A few top spots are YaYa Farm and Orchard, 6419 Ute Highway in Longmont. Camelot Farms, 15911 Black Bridge Road, Paonia. Happy Apple Farm, 1190 1st Street, Penrose. Delicious Orchards, 39126 Highway 133, Hotchkiss. And Apple Valley Orchard,448 K Street,
Penrose.

You'll find more than just apples at most orchards, most have country stores selling everything from fresh pressed cider to pies, berries and other seasonal treats.

So what to do with all these apples?  How about a yummy Apple Sharlotka? Apple Sharla what??  Shar-lot-ka, it's a Russian apple cake, quick, easy and delicious. Top a slice with vanilla ice cream and you have yourself a seriously delicious dessert. A girl friend gave me a sack of fresh picked apples and I made a Sharlotka this last Sunday. It was a hit, even Bossy liked it. Below is a link to the recipe from Chef Matt Danko from Cleveland's Trentina Restaurant as published in this months issue of Food and Wine.

Copy and paste the link below to your browser for a printable PDF recipe for Apple Sharlotka

https://db.tt/vtShPXG4

Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoy the changing seasons as much as we do along with all of the wonderful comfort foods that come with the cooler temperatures!

And I hope you keep me in mind when you're ready to think about selling your home or buying a new one. It would be a privilege to be your Realtor of Choice.

Happy Eating!

Becky Goldsmith

Real Estate
720-979-3184
Becky@beckygoldsmith.com