Explore the Orchard
We couldn’t go through the season without doing a bit of cheesecake.
This recipe has you make the cheese cake layer in advance and then chill for 4 hours. We got a bit antsy and didn’t chill it for quite that long so when we added our apple pie filling it sort of sunk into the cheesecake a tad. Maybe not as aesthetically pleasing as if we had waited but it still tastes great.
Top with ice cream or dairy topping. And, of course, a drizzle of caramel sauce is always a good finishing note
What a great way to start the morning!
With a cup of coffee/latte. Dunking is definitely called for. As well, a good way to round out the day with a bit of milk for late evening snack
You can’t go wrong with apple cider as your base
Here is the recipe
We’d recommend using only the lightest touch of cinnamon in the icing to preserve nice contrast with the cookie
Wally is a 3-month old, Atlantic Giant pumpkin raised in Ewing, Nebraska by family members of our very own Sheila Ziems, Tamra and Larry Ziems, in preparation for a pumpkin competition in Rapid City.
For more information on how to grow your own giant pumpkin check out this segment from “Backyard Farmer” featuring Wally and some other pumpkins Tamra and her husband grew this summer.
Tamra and Larry wanted to make sure Wally got to enjoy the limelight post-competition so we are lucky to have them choose Martin’s Hillside Orchard for his forever home. Come on out and meet Wally. Great photo opportunity!
Follow the Ziems on Facebook, Instagram and twitter – their handle is “craZpumpkins” for photos of the recent pumpkin weigh-in and more info on raising these giants
We can’t wait to collect a few seeds and try to grow one of these for ourselves 🙂
A BIG thanks to Tamra and Larry!
This recipe is a bit of work, but totally worth it. Got to say, there is something so satisfying about flipping that bundt pan and having your cake come out perfectly intact.
The pecans would have been tasty but we decided to forego them this time as we were making this recipe for a family gathering with a niece who has a nut allergy. Definitely wanted her to have a chance to join in the celebration.
Just love those little chunks of orange carrots that peek through the slice. And the cream cheese swirl in the middle is divine.
The butterfly garden is in full swing these days with plants as high (tall) as an elephant’s eye. Plenty of butterflies around, including monarchs on sunny, warm days as they fuel up for their migration south for the winter.
We finally got around to adding signs out in the garden to identify some of the more unusual plants and fun facts about butterflies. They smell with their feet? Yes, indeed! Here are some pics of the winged visitors we’ve captured the last couple of years.
Bring your cameras!
Check out our Facebook page for additional photos
