I absolutely love Autumn. The weather is perfect, the colors are beautiful, and the festivities are never ending. One of my most favorite things to do, and something I look forward to every year, is Apple Picking with my family. 
For the last four years, Pippin Apple Orchard, located in Cranston, RI, has been our go to place for Apple Picking. Apple picking to some people is simply going to an apple orchard and filling a bag with apples. To us, it’s so much more than that. We spend a couple of hours roaming the orchard looking for the perfect apples. We also take lots of breaks in between picking to roll around in the grass and enjoy our family time together. I love that Pippin Orchard it so big. If you go early in the season, there will be a lot of sections closed off but at the end of September and into October, there’s so much room to explore!
Making Memories While Apple Picking
I always dress my little loves in overalls, when we go apple picking. In my opinion, little boys in overalls standing under an apple tree has got to be one of the sweetest things in the world.
I love watching my boys run around the orchard and when I say “boys”, my husband is included in that. He is a great father and always jumps right into the fun. The boys love that we actually play with them and it’s really important to both my husband and I that the kids remember us that way. A little tip – Make sure to bring a wagon with you when you go apple picking, as the apples get pretty heavy to carry around and it’s a good way to keep your hands free so you can play with your little ones! Cherish these moments together…
Baking With Your Little One
Once you come home from apple picking, it’s time to start baking! You should definitely let your little ones help you in the kitchen! Letting your children help you cook/bake can benefit them in many ways.
- Build Basic Math Skills – Counting and measuring, What comes 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
- Explore Their Senses – Touch different textures. Smell different ingredients. Taste the final product.
- Develop Confidence – Children love to help. It makes them feel important and when they see the final product, they will feel such a sense of accomplishment.
Letting your child help you is going to be super messy and it’s going to make a 20 minute process take closer to 45 minutes to complete. That’s okay! Be patient with them and enjoy your time together! They’re only little once! What you can do to make the process go a little smoother is have all of the ingredients you will be using out ahead of time. Have bowls and any utensils you will need on the table and ready to go. Finally, clean as you go! It will make things much easier! In the picture to the right, we are using Pampered Chef’s Apple Peeler/Slicer/Corer. I’ve had this tool for years and absolutely love it! My boys love using it too!
Apple Picking Recipes
If you’re looking for a great apple pie recipe, this is the one we use – Classic Apple Pie. It’s so easy to make and tastes amazing!
Honesty, I don’t always make my own pie crust but if that’s something you want to do, here’s a great recipe – Pie Crust
My husband is a big fan of apple crisp. This the recipe we use to make Daddy happy – Apple Crisp. Again, super easy to make and absolutely delicious!
I hope this post helps you make the most of you Apple Picking adventure! I’m already looking forward to going again before the season is over! 
