Apple of My Eye

Hello  my Foodie Friends!  

It’s that time of year for me to share my annual Halloween memories. Halloween is this weekend, and for the little chefs out there the excitement is building.  How many of us remember going apple bobbing during festivals or when attending a Halloween party? Bobbing for apples is no easy task. Bobbing for apples is a classic Halloween game where you are challenged to take a bite out of an apple that is floating in water while your hands are behind your back – with the task of getting as many apples as you can. Many readers stop into my store and ask how Paula and I met and we both always say that it was working together in a restaurant. However, the real first time we met, was at a church Halloween Dance a few years before. My church knew how to throw fun events. Everyone came dressed in costume.  I dressed as a gangster and my brothers were dressed as my henchmen.  There were many events at the dance and one particular event was bobbing for apples which I was known as a pro. The nuns who spent the better part of their school days, trying to keep the boys and girls apart, wanted to pit the boys against the girls in the apple bobbing contest. My brothers convinced all of the other boys that I should go last in case it was close and then I would seal the expected victory. We were all then paired off against our female opponents. I was paired with a beautiful young lady who was dressed as Pocahontas. She had her hair in what is called a French Braid (I had to ask my daughter, Aubrey, what that hairstyle is call before I wrote this article). She also had something on the end of her braid called a scrunchie? (Aubrey also had to tell me what that was). It finally came down to the last couple to decide who walks away as the “Victor”.  There was a lot of cheering my brothers knew how good I was at this as we grew up every fall playing this game. My Dad had said I had a big mouth so that is why I was so good. I always thought that he was giving me a compliment. Now if realize maybe not, hmmm?  When I looked across the bucket of water, Pocahontas had a big, beautiful smile and I felt something strange. When the Nun’s said go we both plunged our heads into the bucket of water for our apple. The first one to get an apple wins the event. I found my apple and was coming up out of the water when something struck my eye and when I winced in surprise the apple fell out of my mouth. Pocahontas was up and out with a huge apple and the girls cheered and the boys groaned.  When I looked into the eyes of my opponent, I swear there were sparks and fireworks coming in my direction. I never saw her again and never forgot that look. A few years later a beautiful young woman in a French braid hair due was at the restaurant and I was asked to train her. When we looked at each other I realized it was Pocahontas! Her real name was Paula. Of course, she didn’t recognize me so I said, Pocahontas do you like apples. She squinted at me and then smiled and said “it’s you”! That, my Foodie Friends, was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

As you bob for apples this season, there is a very cool tool to help you with your apple desserts; the apple peeling machine. This machine is made of metal and not only peels apples but cores and slices them too. Just suction the peeler to your countertop (some models affix to a work surface with a vice), fit the apple on the skewer and crank away. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place to assist with your heartwarming treats. We carry the supplies you will need to make your chilly night meals and desserts.  Remember my Foodie Friends that “Life Happens in the Kitchen!” 

Take Care, John & Paula