Fall is here and along with it comes all the local festivals. We have had all the county fairs, the Buckwheat Festival, Leaf Peepers and the Forest Festival is in full swing. It is a festive event, with all the colors of fall foliage, parades and craft fairs. Momma Said, “It is a good time to be alive.” I think the weather is even going to cooperate this year and not ran on our parade, so to speak.
We looked forward to the Forest Festival when we were kids it was a really big deal. Only one of the few times we got to go into town. On Saturday of the big parade things start very early. There are wood chopping contests and jousting events, a collection of folks that camp out in primitive tents with period clothing, craft shows and forestry demonstrations. It is a social event of the year.
The year quickly winds down to another end and it won’t be long before we step into 2018. When we were kids it never seemed plausible to even imagine seeing the 21st century. But here we stand and time marches on. There are two things that man has yet to conquer, time and death. They both keep coming no matter what we throw at them. Momma Said, “I am sure that somewhere in the future there will be someone that finds a way to overcome even that.”
I have seen a lot of things invented that I never thought would make it off the ground, so I can’t say that it won’t happen. Maybe it has already happened and we just don’t know about it yet. Scientists have already cloned animals so what is to say that they haven’t dabbled in human cloning. Making interchangeable parts to sustain life or just making a whole new person and implanting memories. Momma Said, “Stranger things have happened.”
FRIED APPLE or PEACH PIES
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried apples or dried peaches
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tsp. cinnamon or apple pie spice
- 1 can jumbo refrigerated flaky biscuits
- vegetable oil for frying
Directions
- Combine apples and water in saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and let cool, mashing slightly if pieces are large. Stir in sugar and butter; set mixture aside.
- If using fresh apples: For the filling: Add 2 TBS butter to a large saute pan and melt. Add 4 peeled, cored and chopped apples, sugar, cinnamon, and 1 tsp lemon juice and cook over medium heat until the apples are soft, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, mash slightly and cool.)
- Roll each biscuit into a 5-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Place about 1 tablespoon apple mixture on half of each biscuit circle. To seal pies, dip fingers in water and moisten edges of circles. Fold in half, making sure edges are even. Using a fork dipped in flour, press edges firmly together to seal.
- Pour oil to a depth of 1/2 inch into a heavy skillet, or use deep fryer. Fry pies in hot oil (370°) over medium-high heat until golden, turning once. Don’t rush it because you want to make sure the biscuit is cooked completely through.
- Drain well on paper towels.
Makes 10 pies
