Phew! What a weekend! Believe me when I say that it is utterly exhausting working a full-time job, a part-time job, and trying to maintain the calendar of a pretty social young couple. I'm knackered 24/7 and feel like I never have time for anything! So you can imagine that every once in awhile I want to just let my hair down and get slightly obliterated.
During the last week of September, my hometown hosts its annual Fall Festival. My parents still live downtown where the atmosphere is lively with people enjoying the arts and crafts for sale, food vendors, and activities. There's usually a slight crispness to the air but it's generally still warm from the summer and just a lovely weekend.
During the last week of September, my hometown hosts its annual Fall Festival. My parents still live downtown where the atmosphere is lively with people enjoying the arts and crafts for sale, food vendors, and activities. There's usually a slight crispness to the air but it's generally still warm from the summer and just a lovely weekend.
Personally, I love the weekend mostly because it brings us kids together. In relation to where we grew up, my brother and his wife live several hours north, my sister is in college about an hour northwest, and I live 45 minutes northeast. With my brother's crazily-scheduled job in the oil industry, my sister not having a car on campus until this year, and my busy schedule of extra jobs, volunteering, or social events, it's difficult for all of us to get together. Fall Fest weekend is one of those times when we can almost guarantee we'll all be out at Mom and Dad's.
Because of the location of my parents' house, people are coming and going all weekend long. We park our vehicles on the street in front of the house so friends from out of town can park in our driveway, visit all of the vendors, and hang out with us for a little while without having to drive all around town looking for parking. People from all over the state (and sometimes even further) come to the little town, and there's just a buzzing, lively, warm feeling all weekend. I absolutely love it. Sometimes I don't even visit the booths - I like to just sit out on the patio with the dog (and now Mike) and listen to the sounds, watch people walk by, and enjoy being outside.
A couple years ago we began having a cookout/bonfire on the Saturday evening of the Fall Fest. Friends come early, walk around downtown, then in the evening we eat, enjoy each other's company, and have a bonfire. It's really a good time! This year, along with making a dish to pass, I spent my short culinary attention span on making a version of what's known as...
Apple Pie Moonshine
- 1 cups Everclear (calls for 190 proof but I used 151 and it came out great)
- 0.5 gal. apple juice
- 0.5 gal. apple cider
- 3.5 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups sugar
Technically it's not a "moonshine" unless you follow the traditional recipe of using a liter of 190 proof moonshine, but I am completely unfamiliar with moonshine and wouldn't even begin to know where to get it, or how much to even add because apparently most are now 80 proof. So anyway... call it a moonshine, don't call it a moonshine. I don't think it matters! Maybe I'll start calling it "Autumn Lush" after my headline :)
- In a stockpot, combine apple juice, apple cider, sugar, and cinnamon sticks.
- Bring to a boil.
- Take off heat when cinnamon sticks lose flavor (about 3-5 minutes).
- Allow to cool completely (or else the alcohol will evaporate! nooooooo!).
- Add Everclear; stir; refrigerate.
Be sure to keep an eye on things... it could boil over and you'll have this mess to deal with!
I later realized I had no way to get the drink from the stock pot to the jug, so I sent Mike out for a funnel. This'll do!
It's lovely in a small glass over ice, as shots, and even warmed up! Actually, seeing as it tastes just like apple pie, it tastes delicious no matter which way you consume it! It definitely was the cherry on top of an amazing weekend :)
*WARNING* This drink is strong! It is super smooth and yummy and will sneak up on you! Please exercise caution! Do not drink if there is any chance you will be driving, and do not allow other possible drivers to drink. If you make this and take it to a party, make sure people are aware of its strength and are responsible enough to know not to drive or to call a cab. Driving drunk or even buzzed is dangerous!
