Apple Crisp Recipe

5 varieties from my dwarf tree

It's early October and it's time to harvest your apples and make apple crisp! I got about 65 nice apples from my 5-in-1 dwarf tree this year and that should make plenty of crisps and pies over the next few months. You can find plenty of recipes on the net or in your paper cookbooks, so heat your oven up to 350 deg and let's get started. 

I must admit that I love my hand cranking apple peeler that my son Justin purchased for me some time ago. It peels and cores the apple in seconds and makes the process easy-peasy! Mine comes from Lee Valley Tools but you can find them at Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond and Canadian Tire. They make a great gift and you might be rewarded with a pie!

Hot from the oven

APPLE CRISP

6 medium apples

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 tablespoons white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup of flour

1/2 rolled oats (adds great texture)

Peel and core apples and toss them with the cinnamon and sugar. Cut the brown sugar, butter, flour and oats together and spread over the apples. Oven temperature 350 deg F for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, cream or nada. Better make a double recipe because it won't last long. It's time to make apple crisp my friend.

How to make a compost bin using FREE Wood Pallets

Free wood pallets

Last week I drove by this pile of wood pallets and it got me thinking about making a compost bin before winter arrives. The pallets are piled at the roadway for anyone wishing to haul them away for firewood or alternative projects. They are free! 
I loaded up three heavy-weight pallets and took them home with the intention of making a compost bin. After securing them with 3" screws I placed them next to my rotating compost barrel that I built last spring.

Click on the YouTube video below and see how to construct this bin with a really fancy and removable front panel. I used a power saw and a nailing gun but keep in mind that you can use a hand saw, hammer and nails or drill and screws to build this bin. Some pallets are much lighter than others, so pick the ones that are suitable to your strength and ability to move them.

First stage

I plan on using this bin #1 as the first stage to composting kitchen waste, coffee filters, egg shells, grass, leaves, flower clippings and farm manure. Once it starts to decompose I will move it to the rolling compost bin for the final stage. Using a two bin system will increase my ability to produce more compost in a growing season. Virtually everything that I once put into the city recycling bin gets composted in my back yard. Let's get building my friend.