Grammy on the Go
By Karen Shadrach
Nothing smells quite like fall as much as the sweet aroma of apples cooking in an old-fashioned, huge copper kettle over a wood fire! A special treat for the senses will be your reward as you attend an apple butter festival with the grandkids.
While there is no butter in apple butter, its name comes from its buttery-smooth texture. The sugars caramelize as the apples cook, which finally gives the apple butter its rich, sweet flavor and dark color. Making apple butter consists of approximately 3-5 bushels of cored and sliced apples. They are then put into a 40-gallon copper kettle, along with sugar and apple cider. The kettle is placed over an open wood fire and the mixture is cooked 10-12 hours, being stirred constantly. Stirring is done with a wooden paddle with holes so that the apples can flow through it. Constant stirring is mandatory to ensure that the apples do not stick to the kettle. Cooking is complete when the sauce is thick and dark brown.
There are several great options to attend an apple butter festival in or around Northeast Ohio:
Our favorite is the Burton Apple Butter Festival in Century Village of Burton. This year, it will be held the weekend of October 2 and 3. Walking through the village, you can smell the sweet apples cooking in several of the huge kettles. The grandkids will love to take a turn stirring the simmering apple butter, pushing the large paddle back and forth in the pot. Men and women dressed in pioneer costumes will help you stir and also explain the cooking process.
The venue sits on a hill where large, colorful kites are usually flown. We love to sit and watch these as we 
grab something to eat. The Century Village has five fully furnished homes that you can tour and view the pioneer crafts artisans are doing within, such as weaving, spinning and rug hooking. Other pioneer arts are also displayed throughout the village, such as blacksmithing and leather tanning. A modern craft show is in the barn and live music can be heard in the center of the mall. Kid-friendly activities include pony rides, a hay maze and a moo-train, which takes children all around the village area. There is also a small farm, where the kids can view pigs, ponies and chickens.
The snacks available are definitely worth trying! You can purchase a large slice of freshly baked Amish bread spread with warm apple butter, or try apple fritters. I was expecting the donut-type of fritter, but these were quite different and delicious! Individual apple slices are dipped in batter before frying. Powdered or cinnamon sugar is sprinkled on top! The grandkids love these!
The Hueston Woods Apple Butter Festival in Oxford, Ohio is also on October 2-3. It features the continual creation of apple butter in the pioneer fashion throughout the event, making it a great place to watch and taste delicious fresh apple butter! In addition, you can also purchase a wide variety of apples, cider, pumpkins and gourds.
Historic Roscoe Village in Coshocton hosts an Apple Butter Stirrin’ Festival on October 16-17. This year, they are celebrating their 50th anniversary. Roscoe Village is known as America’s canal town and is a charming restoration of a community that was once a thriving port on the Ohio and Erie Canal. The many original 1800s-era buildings are the hallmark of this quaint, scenic village.
Have a sweet time at an apple butter festival this fall!
Kite-flying photo by Karen Shadrach
