Apple Butter Festival

 

Yesterday we went to the Apple Butter Festival at the Lutheran Memorial Camp in Fulton, Ohio.

LMC was also the place where we went to the Maple Syrup Festival last March. 

These folks are busy, to say the least! 

I liked the welcome sign posted on trees as we walked to the festival area.

The camp is a perfect place for both festivals. The wooded area has a rustically beautiful main lodge where musicians hang out, making joyful noises for everyone to enjoy.

There was horse-drawn wagon rides, a children's craft/play area, auction, arts and crafts, farmers market, and of course, food.

People could watch (and purchase) apple cider being made in a small, man-powered cider mill. Cider does not come any fresher!

Making apple butter the old-fashioned way is a long process. Apples are washed and chopped and added to apple cider in a large copper kettle which is suspended over a wood fire. The mix has to be constantly stirred to prevent sticking and scorching, which would ruin the whole batch. 

It takes a LONG time for the apples and cider to reduce to apple butter consistency. Someone must always keep the fire stoked. Naturally, making apple butter is a group project, as both the stirrer and the poker get tired (and hot!) mighty fast.

Near the end, spices such as cinnamon and cloves are added. 

The end product is well worth the effort. 

These days, many people make homemade apple butter in the oven or slow cooker. I am so lazy that I simply make applesauce, cook it down a bit more, add the spices and call it "apple butter".

Hey, whatever works, eh? :)

Marcheta *lazy and proud of it