A Weeks Worth of Apples- Part I- Pick Your Own Apples

It is apple picking season in Georgia! From August til October north Georgia is the place to be. I feel like I am waiting (quite impatiently) for apple season each year to come around. Now don't be mistaken Summer is my favorite season of all (I always say get me a book a hammock and the beach and I am in my happy place). But coming in close second is fall. And picking apples has been our family tradition for the last 3 years. It helps ring in the beautiful fall season. 

This week we headed to the orchards in Ellijay. Depending on what orchard you pick you can usually make a whole day of it. The orchards usually have tons of activities for the whole family. Come hungry because you will want to try all that the stands have to offer. After paying for our 1/2 bushel bag ($11!) We we off to picking. My husband and and I enjoyed watching our kids pick the apples. My daughter liked the little ones and my son was in a competition(with himself) to see if he could find the biggest apple, guess what he won! He was climbing up the middle of the trees and getting all the apples that no one could reach. And when he wasn't doing that he was climbing on shoulders to reach the ones at the very top. When we were done we went to the store/market. They had apple butter, apple jam, apple cider, apple juice, apple vinaigrette, apple ice cream, apple dumplings, apple doughnuts, apple pie, and plenty of already picked apples along with many many more apple containing produce. We scored and found a section where all the 2nd were( these are usually apples that aren't the prettiest or may have a bruising). We score a bushel for only $6 (we thought the $11 half a bushel was a great price). I wanted more that one but if I came home with more than a bushel and a half I would be canning apple for forever. The hubby picked up some apple BBQ sauce and apple hot sauce, along with vidalia onion steak sauce(which was A-MA-ZING BTW). Then we got a gallon of apple cider juice ( because it was still 80 degrees and apple cider is just not my drink of choice until it is at least in the 60s) and fried pies to share (think of McDonald's apple pies, but actually good). The pies were perfect, they tasted naturally sweetened by the apples and not from sugar. 
The hour trip to Ellijay was well worth it. Can't wait to come back this fall to pick our own pumpkins and to hike Amicalola Falls. It is fun seeing the beautiful that this wonderful state has to offer. 
Now wish me luck, my next few days I will be peeling and coring my large bunch of apples. I am trying a new apple butter recipe. Hoping it turns out like I imagine, I will share how it goes. 
Also I need another canning idea other than apple sauce. What are some of your favorite apple canning recipes?

-Stephanie