Friday, March 14, 2008

Home Made Cider~ Amish Cider Press

It's show and tell at There's No Place Like Home. Please click the link and see all the fun things she has to show. http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/
Today I'd like to share with you our cider press. My husband had it shipped from an Amish company. He and my dad put it together. When we have a lot of "windfalls," fresh apples which fall to the ground while picking other apples, we make cider. These apples are good ones, but will be too bruised for selling. The apples are placed in the black hopper and then ground up inside when the round crank is turned. Round wooden boards are placed on top of the mashed apples inside the bucket, and then pressed when the upper crank is turned. I'm sorry I don't have a photo of the broomstick, which is placed on the upper crank and is turned to press the juice out. Now that I am getting better at blogging, I will take better photos in the future of things like the broom stick and the juice coming out. We put the cider in sterile milk jugs and into the freezer.
We've had customers come out to pick apples for eating and then make and buy our cider.
The frozen cider can be given at Christmas time to neighbors. It is very tasty.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my cider press."A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 25:11
Have a lovely Friday ~ Blessings ~ Kathi

30 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Oh, My!!! I am swallowing hard right now, this is such a subliminal Show N Tell...I can taste the cider right now!!! What a treasure to have.

If you haven't dropped by my Show N Tell yet, I sure hope you do. Have a great Friday and Happy weekend!!!

Rose of Sharon said...

And I can give a testamony that the cider is very, very good!!! That apple press sure is neat! Thanks for sharing these pictures Kathi, what fun farm life you guys have! You are so blessed.

I didn't do S&T this week because I am having a busy weekend. I had yesterday off and was dissapointed in how tired I was. I took a nap after lunch. I still am recovering from that nasty cold.

Have a great Friday!

I love you! Sharon

Simply Heart And Home said...

Now there is a wonderful family project! Not only do you end up with delicious cider but smiles and memories as well.

Gina

j said...

Very Very cool! You have a neat home life, Kathi.

Jen

The young girl you asked about passed away the day I made that post. She was 14 and it is beyond me how her parents must be feeling.

Lisa said...

wow! i love cider! so good for you...
this is a cool show & tell...
boy! now that's a tub of apples...would love to have that many apples and to be able to press them.
blessing, Lisa

Susan said...

What a great Show & Tell. I can almost taste the delicious cider!!!
Susan

Constance said...

WOW! that's cool! In the wintertime I make Hot Caramel Cider! If you're interested I would love to share the recipe with you! I've always wanted to have fruit trees, My Hub really LOVES Jonathons!
Connie

Kelly said...

You actually have one of those???!!!!! Oh my gosh that is the coolest thing I have ever seen, that is something my kids would totally love!! You have such an awesome place there, and people come and can buy the cider??? you have a great little family business you could go into, what a great place for people to stop with their kids too! I just love this, thank you I loved reading it!!!

Kelly

BittersweetPunkin said...

How neat is that Kathi? Love the photos of your family...I love apple cider...we used to live near a cider mill when I lived in CT.

Heather said...

What a fun way to spend time with the kiddo's. It must be GREAT living on all that acreage! What an incredible education your kids get right there at home!

Hugs and blessings!

A Romantic Porch said...

That really is very interesting. I love fresh cider, and would love to pick apples there and try some! xoRachel

Brenda said...

That's awesome. Sure sounds yummy! Have a great day!

cherished*vintage said...

Hi Kathi! mmmmm good I wish I could taste it now. My hubby's grandpa had a very old cider press and he talks often of how great that cider was. Have a wonderful weekend!
-Karoline

Simply Stork said...

oh soooo cool!!! I am so jealous!

(and I could swear I can taste it too...I love it)

~simply~

Dawn said...

What a neat press, and I bet that cider is delicious. :-)

Anonymous said...

I want a drink.. I always buy the cider when we go to Lancaster. yum

nannykim said...

That is really cool---sounds delicious!!! Must really smell good too.

Julieann said...

Ohhh, that is soooo neat!

Julieann

Rebecca said...

Not only does it sound delicious, it looks like fun!! Thanks for sharing.

Cjdusse said...

Oh that was very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I love apple cider and never knew how it's made.

stace said...

wow!!!!great story....i never knew that it took sooo much work to make cider.....thanks for all the prayers that you send our way.....

The Apron Queen said...

That looks like TOO much fun! We always baked the apples that were bruised. Cider looks like more fun!

Stop on by for a visit at http://anapronaday.blogspot.com. Made some Kiss Me I'm Irish Beef & Cabbage yesterday & posted the recipe. Come on over, I'll fix you a plate!

JEWELGIRL said...

I've seen something like this at
a small apple orchard business.
Nothing like fresh juice.

Anonymous said...

Kathi, This was such a fun post. I love seeing the cider press. I love fresh apple cider! Your house looks so pretty in the background I like the colors.

You always have such great fun!

Here in Michigan we have cider mills, something I had not been acquainted with before moving to the midwest. Now I'm wishing for cider!

I hope you are having a great weekend. I'm sending good wishes your way.

Hugs,
Cookie

Cathy said...

How fun! We used to have a cider press when I was a kid and I loved going to the local apple farm to pick apples and then come home to make cider. There's nothing better than homemade apple cider! Great Show & Tell!

Cathy :)

mrsjojo said...

What a wonderful family activity. I've never seen a cider press before. thanks for sharing. I'm sure your friends and neighbors really enjoy getting the homemade cider!!

Anonymous said...

Here in Wales, when we speak of cider, it is the alcoholic drink we mean! I have about 6 apple trees here, and am hard pressed to use all the apples - we cook with them, though two trees are eating apples, so they get eaten. I bet your cider is great.

~~Deby said...

That is so cool and to have one of your own....the cider sounds so good and refreshing...do you ship?
Deby

Nora Lee said...

Great show and tell! I love fresh apple cider. What great fun for your family as well. Thanks for sharing.

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