Apple Play Food for Autumn

When I was in first and second grade, our school had an "apple celebration" in early autumn with lots of apple themed activities including variety tasting, bobbing, and painting with apples.  I'm not sure if I loved apples before those events, but I know that I've loved apples ever since.  They're a perfectly portable snack and come in so many options that there's always something new to try.  My current way to enjoy apples is to dip slices in sunflower seed kernels.  Yum!  Of course, pie is always good.

I know that July is not usually the time that we start thinking about apples, but I have been working on creating new products for the shop lately.  Since they've been on my mind, I thought I'd get them posted to the blog.  It's been a lot of fun trying out new and getting autumnal things in the shop.

I had no idea how difficult it would be to make a felt apple!  It turns out that it's much easier to make a beefsteak tomato than it is to make an apple.  After several attempts,I finally mastered this beautiful, red, fruit.  It's perfect for your pretend produce stand, farmer's market, grocery store, or play kitchen.  Stock up now for back-to-school, so you'll have a pile of apples to give all your kids' teachers- one that will last forever.  These would make great kitchen decorations, too!

> > > Whole Red Apple < < <

This apple pie is based off a real pie I saw on Pinterest.  I think the letters make it very interesting and set it apart from the other felt pies I've made (so many pies!).  Of course, you can also get this pie in a normal lattice crust if you'd like.  It's perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations or as part of your autumn pretend play.  It would look adorable in a play kitchen or bakery, as well as being a nice accessory for a pretend fruit stand, apple orchard play area, or farmer's market.

> > > Whole Apple Pie with Letters < < <

After I had successfully made a red apple, I had to make a green one too.  It looks so nice with the apple pies I've been making, too.  The lighting isn't great in this picture, so it doesn't show how great this mottled apple looks in real life.  It's a gentle color and would be a great kitchen decoration or teacher's gift.

> > > Get the Green Apple < < <

I'm very excited about this second variety of apple pie.  Your kids can build their own pie using the pieces in the playset.  They can place the bottom crust in the pie, add the filling, and layer the cut apples in a pleasing way.  Then, roll out the top crust with the rolling pin and carefully place it on top of the apples.  Bake in the oven and serve to your guests.  So much play potential with just a few ingredients!  Swap out the apple for a different filling to make a new flavor of pie.  My own kids have been enjoying making the pie over and over- it must be magic!

> > > Make Your Own Pie < < <

All this apple pie talk makes me want to curl up with my kids to read a good, while a pie bakes in the oven.  Even though we've just started summer, I guess I'm longing for autumn a tiny bit (not too soon, though).  In the meantime, take a look at these good apple pie books for your collection.

Annie the Apple Pie Fairy- Annie is a TV baking show host, but when her stardom and ratings are threatened by another show, how will she react?  By getting bigger and better, of course!  Learn about healthy competition with this sweet fairy book.

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World- As the title suggests, the book takes readers all over the planet to gather ingredients to make a yummy apple pie.  From apples in Vermont to wheat flour in Italy, your kids can work on their geography while learning about the possible origins of their food.

How Do Apples Grow- From the seed to the spout, the flower to the fruit, this science book for kids explores how apples get to our grocery store.  We love the "Read and Find Out" series for our homeschool, and recommend this one too.

The Apple Pie Tree- Two sisters watch their apple tree progress through the seasons from bare branches to apple pie.  This is a classic book for preschool and kindergarten aged kids.

Apples, Apples Everywhere- Join a farmer at his apple orchard as he talks about harvest time.  Learn how apples are processed, which ones are best for munching, and what happens to wormy apples.  This book would make a good companion to a trip for picking apples.

Johnny Appleseed- This fun book with rhyming text tells about John Chapman, the real life Johnny Appleseed and his mission to plant apple trees all over North America.

Apple Pie Fourth of July- In a unique look at the experiences of Chinese-Americans, this book celebrates their contribution to American history and culture and explores what makes something American.

Ten Apples Up on Top- This classic counting book is a contest to see who can balance the most apples on their head.  It's so silly that it will have kids understanding numbers before too long.  Plus, then they'll want to try the balancing game too!

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