We have dozens of Hawthorne or Thorn Apple trees on our land, and the prettly little "apples" are getting red. What can I do with them? They're tart! They'll make good jelly, I've been told, but I can only use so much jelly!

A friend suggested wine, but I haven't the first clue about how this is done. Do I need to buy a kit, or is this something I can confiddle together without buying special things?

Also, where d'you suppose I could put my piddies on a goodly quantity of parifin? $1.49 for a little box seems high, but the supermarket is the only place I've seen it so far. Any ideas?

Thanks!!!

-- Arewyn (isitthatlate@lready.com), August 30, 1999

Answers

Arewyn:

If you haven't done this before buying a kit [or at least the proper wine yeast from the store] might be a good idea. Depending on wild yeast can lead to amazing results [either very good or the dark side].

Best,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), August 30, 1999.

Buy the parafin at a crafts store. Comes in 11# blocks.

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), August 30, 1999.

You would more properly be making a cider rather than a wine. You might want to do a search on cider making... Wine is made from grapes because they have a much higher sugar content than most other fruits. If you live in a cold climate, you might also look into making apple jack...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 30, 1999.

MM:

I can't agree. Apple wine can be very good. The very best is rose hip wine; makes France look lower class. I have never made it from the Haw so I don't know how that would work.

best,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), August 30, 1999.

Arewyn.. Apple cider is made by coring and crushing apples. Use clean picked apples. Do not wash the skin because this is where the yeast microbes are. Depending on the sugar content and fermentation time is what the eventual achohol will be. There are many fermentation recipes on the internet on the art of fermentation. I do suggest you try now and learn while all is well. Once you figure apple cider out the Apple Cider Vinegar step is a cake walk. Email me if you have any questions. I have made numerous batches of apple cider,wine and apple cider vinegar.....

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), August 31, 1999.

Applesauce is nutritious.

-- mommacarestx (harringtondesignX@earthlink.net), August 31, 1999.