There is a little town, just a few minutes up the highway from Placerville, called Camino. For the majority of the year, Camino is just a sign on Highway 50 travelers see on their way up to Lake Tahoe.
Until Labor Day weekend.
From Labor Day thru most of Fall, Camino becomes one of the most popular attractions in Northern California. That’s the time when Apple Hill, with close to 50 apple growers, open to the public.
All kinds of apples, not to mention other farm fresh fruit, are available by the bag or box or even just one or two, if you can resist temptation. There are pies, tarts, candy apples, caramel apples, jams, butters . . . you name it, the growers of Apple Hill have it. And more. Craft fairs, fishing ponds, and other activities await families, many who make the trip an annual event. There are also quite a few wineries too.
Ah, have times have changed since I was a newbie driver with the ink barely dry on my learner’s permit and my mother wanted a box of apples. Brave soul, she is. We hopped into my brother’s Datsun pick up (remember Datsun’s?) and headed up the hill to the orchards in Camino which, at the time, were either dirt or gravel roads. And the truck was a stick shift.
There’s a reason why it’s called Apple “Hill”.
I can now drive a stick up and down any hill around, thank you very much.
The roads are all paved now and are ready and waiting for the descent of apple lovers next weekend.
Did I mention that our new house is only 3 miles away from Apple Hill? Oh yes. I’ll be headed there next week for some Golden Delicious and Granny Smith’s.
And an obligatory caramel apple.
Then I’ll bake one of two cakes that even I can’t possibly mess up – Apple Cake from the growers of Apple Hill. I don’t know the history of the recipe but I know we’ve been making this cake since I was a child and that was . . . a while back.
Since this blog is called Just Paint It, not Just Bake It, I came up with a way to share recipes for those of you expecting something paint-related.
This recipe is so easy that I thought I’d have some fun and illustrate it!
Just acrylic paint on watercolor paper.
Outlined with a fine tip marker.
I did have a few, um . . . issues.
How do you draw chopped, diced apple to look like . . . apple?
I have no idea.
And plates. Ugh. I’d forgotten the problems I’ve had with painting plates before. It’s a little loopy. Kinda like the time Mom and I made my sister’s wedding cake, which happened to be this apple cake, which happened to be a tiered wedding cake, which we didn’t know should have dowels and cardboard circles to stabilize the layers, which we also didn’t realize how HEAVY this cake is, which led to a beautiful iced wedding cake that started to tilt . . . and droop . . . and tilt . . . and you get the idea.
Made quite the impact though. But it was tasty!
My favorite part of this painting was this sifter. I have no idea why. It just took me back to when I was a kid.
When country roads were dirt and gravel.
If you’d like this recipe, I made an 8-1/2 x 11 printable.
Even if you don’t print it off, try this cake. It.is.delish.
What’s a hallmark of Fall for you? Back to school, the leaves turning colors, Labor Day?
Colleen
Laura Strack says
I remember trying to get my “saucer” to look right, when I took your online painting class! Darn them plates! Lol. Next time, when painting apples, try apple slices/wedges. IDK, but maybe that would help. Love all your little whimsical paintings. They would be so stinkin’ cute decoupaged onto a pie plate, wooden box, etc. for your kitchen decor.
Laura / The Shed by Pet Scribbles says
What a fantastic idea Colleen – to share your recipes with your artistry together! Love it!
malia says
This is the cutest illustration Colleen! You are such a versatile artist!
Mary Beth says
Colleen…these are absolutely adorable….I would love a whole cookbook of your illustrations or a kitchen full of your artwork! LOVE LOVE LOVE