My Weekend and Things I Ate -- Fair Food and Apple Picking

I tend to fantasize about running far, far away from Massachusetts. Not that I don't love my home state, I do, and dearly, and I do hope I end up growing old here someday. But 24 years is far too long to stay put and 24 is WAY. TOO. MANY. NEW. ENGLAND. WINTERS.

And though I know I will be here for a while still, before I make my grand escape to a milder climate for a few years, there is one thing I know I will miss:

New England Autumn.

At the fair with friends!

It's the last beautiful hurrah before the snow falls and we all are in a quasi-state of hibernation until often mid-April. And what comes with Autumn? FAIRS. In particular, The Big E! This year I decided I should be in a constant state of eating things the entire time I am at the fair. I very nearly completed this too!--Now I feel like I need to take a Vegan diet for a week to detox from the insane amount of calories, sugar, and grease, but that's neither here nor there.

Started off with a footlong corndog (my first corn dog EVER to be precise), some fair fries, and an ice cold coke.

Next was a lobster roll from the Massachusetts Building

An alcoholic mid-day drink (I had the blue moon)

I found the stockpile of Shock Top too...

Dinner was veggie tempura with Ranch dressing (and of COURSE another ice cold coke)

The FAMOUS Maine Baked Potato from the Maine building--the line is always loooong but so, SO worth it.

And here's just a neat picture I took as the sun was setting:

 Sadly, I entirely forgot to take pictures of my "desserts" along the way: Maple cream cone, maple sugar cotton candy, and a slice of deep fried cheesecake. I maaay return Wednesday to consume some more hideous amounts of food, but I am very satisfied with all my goodies. Gotta love the fair! :)

 I also participated in the Western Massachusetts Walk Now for Autism Speaks walk. I reached my personal goal of $200 within a few short days thanks to generous donations to coworkers and friends. This is a cause that is very close to my heart (as I've alluded to in previous posts), and I was so happy to support it this weekend. I walked with my cousin and it was a gorgeous day and a really fun time!

And today, I went apple picking! I was fully expecting to pay $20 for a picking bag, as I've experienced at other places, but the prices for picking at Quonquonts in Whately were VERY reasonable! I never knew about this orchard and was expecting to have to drive forever to get to one of the orchards in the hilltowns, but a friend suggested this to me and I'm so glad I went! My friend and I each picked a peck of Gala, Macoun, Macintosh, Empire, and Honey Gold apples. I fully intend on making homemade apple sauce, apple crisp, and perhaps a tart or pie in the near future. Be on the lookout!

And Recipe coming soon! Here's a little preview!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Ravioli with Maple Cream Sauce

Chicken Piccata

Something with... apples?