This is the start of a weekly column for the month of October that looks to help readers enjoy the season of autumn by providing the best tips and information on scenic parks, fall-favorite activities, recipes, and more.
Long Island’s Fall Foliage
The beauty that surrounds us each and everyday changes with the seasons. Though some of us truly believe that Long Island’s best season is the summer due to our wonderful coasts and calming waters, I for one am in love with Long Island’s autumn.
As the trees change color and begin to shed, leaves surround us like the warm hug of a sweater. In autumn, we can comfortably take a walk through the foliage of our island without a beating hot sun or brisk, cold flurries.
Caleb Smith State Park Preserve off Jericho Turnpike in Smithtown is one of many beautiful landscapes providing us with bright fall colors. In the fall season, the park flutters with osprey and sings with warblers. Alongside the walking trails of the 543-acre park are eastern chipmunks and rare Pink Lady Slipper plants.
Though the fishing season is coming to an end in October, the Nissequogue River and various ponds obtain beautiful wildlife to watch. The family-friendly hiking trails are perfect for kids to explore the wetlands. The park also has a nature museum and visitor center, along with a nature program perfect for children of all ages.
Location: 581 West Jericho Turnpike (Route 25) Smithtown
Open: Monday-Sunday 9:00a.m to 5:00p.m.
Call: (631) 265-1054
Bayard Cutting Arboretum is a gem in Suffolk County. The arboretum is not just a park; instead, the 691 acres are meant to be an area in which the public can relax and enjoy through the peaceful sounds of nature. According to Mrs. Cutting, “the arboretum should serve as an oasis of beauty and quiet…a source of pleasure, rest, and refreshment.”
Veined with both paved and unpaved paths around gardens, ponds, and rivers, there are plenty of areas to explore with the beautiful colors of fall and leaves glittering the grass. On the grounds, glimpses of wildlife like foxes and turtles are common and the history of the grounds can be found as you walk the property.
The arboretum also provides daily events that provide the public with guided walks, art workshops and even a volunteer-run thrift shop. This coming Wednesday, October 11, the ground will host an Autumn Forest Therapy Walk in the late morning to reconnect with nature. Under the fall leaves and cool winds, the walk will allow you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of what is around you.
Location: 440 Montauk Highway, Great River
Open: Monday-Sunday 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Call: (631) 581-1002
How To Pick the Best Apples
Apple picking may not be a difficult task, however there is most definitely a correct way to go about it. The perfect apple can be hard to find in an orchard of thousands but with a few tips, you can find some of the best apples for a juicy bite or sweet apple pie.
The feel of a perfectly ripe apple varies between types, however common characteristics include being firm and crisp to the touch. Apples furthest from the base of the tree tend to be the ripest.
Similar to buying apples from the grocery store, look for apples that are firm without bruises or scuffs. It is also important to not take any apples that are already laying on the ground. However, if in the process of picking your apple off the tree and it falls, the apple will be fine and safe to take home.
When picking the apple off the tree, use your whole palm to grasp the apple, this way your fingers do not bruise the apple. Lift the apple upwards and twist it so the stem breaks from the tree. Pulling or shaking the branch will only damage the tree.
Apples come in shades of red, yellow and green, with the green being a bit more tart and sour in taste than the other two. They have a thicker skin making them crispier and less favorable for apple pie. Red apples, on the other hand, are sweeter and juicier being higher in sugar. Apples with full and deep color absorb the most sunlight, and therefore tend to have the most flavor. All colors can be picked at the various apple orchards around our island.
Orchards with dwarf fruit trees tend to be more family friendly, as they grow closer to the ground, allowing for children to pick apples along with parents. It is important to remind children not to climb on the trees as it may hurt the tree and affect its ability to grow fruit the following year.
Fall’s Favorite Recipe
Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
Ingredients:
Pie crust:
1 pack of two pie crusts (refrigerated)
Apple Pie Filling:
3 apples (peeled and sliced)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
3/4 cup of water
Topping:
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Toss sliced apples with lemon juice and set aside.
In a saucepan, combine cornstarch sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and water. Stir well and bring to a boil over medium heat whisking constantly. Let boil for two minutes until thick, then stir in apple slices.
Reduce heat to low, cover the pot and let it simmer for about ten minutes. Apples should be soft but not mushy. Cooking times will depend on apples. Remove apples from heat and leave them covered to soften and cool.
When cooled, take the apples out of the sauce and chop into small cubes.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Lightly dust a flat surface with flour. And lay out one pie crust. Spread the caramel sauce on the pie crust, and then add apple pieces on top.
Cut the second pie crust into 1 1/2-inch-wide strips and create a lattice top over the filling.
Using a round cookie cutter (2-3 inches in diameter is best), cut out circular cookies and place them on a baking sheet. Brush egg wash on top of the cookies, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top of cookies. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.