As American as Apple Pie

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 "As American as Apple Pie"


"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"


"An apple for the teacher"


"The apple of my eye"


"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree"


Food vector created by vextok - www.freepik.com



The days are shorter, the air is crisper and it's apple harvest time.  If you drive along the Columbia River north of Wenatchee, WA with your car window down, you can smell the apples on their way to market!

Apples have been a major part of my family's farming history.  From New Hampshire, through Vermont and Wisconsin, the Stowe and Dyer families were in apple growing country.  When Anna Wood Dyer proved the homestead land in Minnesota in 1881, the evaluation included over 700 apple trees.

My great grandfather, Solomon Stowe, preferred apple pie for breakfast, my great grandmother, Mary Dyer Stowe, always had a supply on hand.  As a 4 year old child, my Aunt Ena was always sooo hungry when she went to Grandma's house and Grandma always had a piece of apple pie for "that poor starving child!"



Food vector created by macrovector - www.freepik.com

Applejack-the sweet sip of freedom                                     

But I'm sure my family was not unique.  Apples have been a part of American history from the earliest colonies.  The only native American apple was the crabapple.  Colonists brought seeds and cuttings from England and established orchards on nearly every farm.

When things were coming to a boil over tax on tea, many farmers were happy to take comfort with some of last year's cider that had been stored in the barn.  

Tantri Wija contributed an article to the Seattle Times Pacific NW magazine, October 24, 2021 that is cleverly written from the aspect of the 1773 colonial farmer enjoying his applejack.

Colonial farmers’ nontaxing method to brew applejack independently was almost revolutionary | The Seattle Times


Everybody has heard the story of Johnny Appleseed who helped spread the fruit in the Midwest.  As the edges of civilization moved westward, the humble apple was along for the ride.  

As farms were abandoned, apple orchards remained and there are people who are currently hunting for these leftover heirloom apples.

Hunting Down the Lost Apples of the Pacific Northwest - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


"Sippin' cider through a straw"

So, as I sit here sipping my new crop Washington state apple cider, I think of all the recipes for Apple Pie, Apple Crumble, Baked Apples and other delectable desserts that are possible.  

What influence have apples had on your family history?


MaryLynn Strickland



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