Food Network chef Danny Boome shares his recipe for Crustless Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream.
(Courtesy Food Network)Like the changing leaves, apple picking is a quintessential sign of fall.
Families can head to an orchard, enjoy the crisp autumn air and fun activities like hayrides and then return home with a bushel to bake a fresh apple pie.
Even city dwellers can find apple orchards and farms just a short drive away.
Masker Orchards, about 90 minutes from Manhattan in Warwick, N.Y., is a 200-acre apple orchard with many varieties, including Granny Smith, Macintosh, Jonagolds, Romes and many more. You can check the orchard's Web site to find out when your favorite varieties are ripe.
The trees are not very tall, so even your littlest can pick fruit. Many families break for lunch by setting up a picnic right in the middle of the orchard, or you can head to a country store to pick up a quick bite.
It's best to go in the morning to avoid crowds and get first pick at the best apples. By midafternoon, you may find yourself stuck in a human traffic jam between rows of tress.
Before you leave, you can stop by a small market, with a country store and bakery stand and a pumpkin patch. A generously filled bag of apples costs about $20, and a half bag costs about $10. But don't be surprised if you're asked to pop your trunk, as it seems some visitors have been known to stow away a few extra bushels there.
Other apple orchards close to the city are:
Lyman Orchards, Middlefield, Conn.
Dressel Farms, New Paltz, N.Y.
Stone Ridge Orchard, Stone Ridge, N.Y.
You can find out about apple orchards all over the country at www.allaboutapples.com.
Go to the next page for apple pie recipes from celebrity chefs!
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
