Apple Picking/Pie Baking
by Michelle Corrado

Ah, Fall is in the air. The leaves are turning, the wind is a little colder and the apples are ripe…….for hucking at one another across the orchards! What else could we be talking about? Of course - apple picking, Hillside House style. The annual trek to the misfortunate local orchard is one of the first activities of the year. In the event of a measly apple crop, we've also been known to visit the local supermarket for our shiny red delights.

Outside of picking the apples (and the token pumpkins) the true fun was always the pie baking that followed. For those of us who were at Tufts during the tenure of Dean Bobbi Knable, this activity is all the more memorable. Dean Knable would call us at the beginning of every academic year to make sure we "made a date" for pie baking. She would come armed with numerous copies of her coveted apple pie recipe and her apron. Like the commander of an army about to enter battle, she would order every one to their stations: you peel, you cut, you roll the dough, No! You can NOT put 12 pies in the oven at once, someone will have to wait!

Of course, Dean Knable would first have to show us the CORRECT way to peel an apple. According to her, you were supposed to try to get the peel off in one strand and then throw it over your left shoulder. The peel was supposed to spell the first letter of the name of your true love.

What we didn't consume that day, got stored away for the next culinary feast…..the Thanksgiving Dinner.