When: September 2-3, 2015

Where: Kauffman’s Market & Orchards
What time: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Access: The party invite here

We’ve held up writing about this for awhile, but now that the time is getting closer we’re excited to focus in on the anniversary party coming up in a couple of weeks, because it’s time to celebrate 100 years of fruit-growing, cider-making years of want and plenty. To quote the calendar that we put out toward the beginning of the year:

“Kauffman’s story includes the past, present, and future. When Amos Kauffman started the company, he wanted to provide work for his sons, and that has multiplied over the decades to dozens of families being provided for from the farm, orchard and store. The flip side of the coin is the blessing of relationship with the community: good neighbors shopping in the market, working there, and even helping us to bring in the crops at times.”

We have much to be thankful for, and to return the thanks to where it began we are hosting an open house/casual event for all the community and beyond. We plan to serve featured Kauffman’s product and delicious food such as fresh apples, apple schnitz, cider doughnuts (we promise you don’t want to miss these) and apple cider.

You’ll also have the opportunity to do things like walk through the peach and apple orchards, see the fruit butter cooking process, watch things happen real time, along with a bunch of other things planned like an apple pie contest.

Apple Pie Contest

We’re excited about this one! Who doesn’t love a good contest with something as marvelous and all-American as apple pie? So here’s the deal, if you have an apple pie recipe that you’ve loved for generations, or even if you just discovered it a week ago, you can submit it by 6:30 on Wednesday evening, September 2nd. Our taste-testing judges will get to work trying all the delectable and the winners will be announced an hour later.

Deadline: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 2nd
Prize: to be announced, via social media

Classic Peach Bread

Now for the pre-party, which includes some wonderful, moist peach bread with great texture and even better taste. This was developed quite a long time ago by some friends who have graciously allowed us to use and feature their recipe on the blog as we have enjoyed this recipe for a long time and usually only use this one.

Ingredients:

3 eggs

2 cups white sugar

1 cup oil

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

3 tsp cinnamon

2 cups diced canned peaches

½ cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour two 8x4 loaf pans.
2. Beat eggs lightly. Blend in sugar, oil, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix just to combine. Stir in the peaches and nuts and pour batter into pans.
3. Take 3 Tbsp. brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon and sprinkle on top of loaves if desired. Bake for about 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

There you go! Deliciously warm and soft peach bread. We like to slather ours in butter and partake with tea or coffee, but it would be wonderful with fruit butters and jams on top as well if you like sweet on sweet.

Meanwhile, goodbye for this time, and we hope to see you at the party!