our nation was raped

It seems the newspapers rarely bring good news, or at least all of the good news is completely overshadowed by the bad. Aside from world news, home is looking pretty grim at the moment. West Nile Virus is all over the place, with over 41 deaths counted, some from my own hometown. Wildfires have destroyed our country's beauty. Violence ensues:  Police are proving themselves incompetent. Conversation concerning Julian Assange surges forward. Politics are never out of the news, especially with the upcoming election. It seems that the attacks on Planned Parenthood, recently brought to the forefront in 2011, have inspired discussions about ligitimate rape, abortion, and birth control again.

I have just finished applying for my absentee ballot. I expected an eruption of pride and excitement, but all I feel is apathy. I don't care to vote for Obama or Romney. At the tender age of 18 I was so filled with hope for change and revolution when I nervously cast my first vote. I really believed that I could make a difference, that our president could make a difference. Now I see that I have to be the change I wish to see. My president isn't going to do that for me.  At the impressionable age of 18, I believed that my president could actually make change for the better. I guess I never paid much attention to US history, too busy daydreaming. Sure, change happens gradually, but rarely in a drastic direction or one of serious reformation.

I can't help but revert back to that youthful 18 year old. It may only be 6 years later, but those six years have brought many revelations, changes, and alterations. I can't say that I resemble that skinny 18 year old in the slightest. Yet, I still hang on to some kind of hope, even if it is a little less naive. Occupy may not be the movement it intended, but it reminded us that revolution can be possible. We can have our own American Spring. At least there is clear proof that some people still have a fight, a drive, a sense of urgency. Life is too short to fall to the wayside, to sit on the sideline and watch the main players call the shots, to form a queue and follow the person ahead of you. You have to cut your own path.

Sweet Successful Disasters

This adventure into apple butter making was really an eventful experience. After the battle with the worms there was an encounter with a pressure cooker. Now I've used a pressure cooker before, but only the kind that only requires the press of a button and presto all you have to do is wait. This one is not electronic, therefore, immediately more terrifying. For those of you who are not acquainted with pressure cookers, I will give a small background. They are a kind of pot that allows you to cook under extreme pressure, which allows food to cook faster. Ok. Now if you decide to take the top off BEFORE the pressure is release, you will discover that the lid has suddenly turned into a flying torpedo. Luckily the pot I was using had a lid that is wider than the circumference of the pot opening, and there was a safety valve and a quick pressure release. All the same, still a little intimidating. Long story short I really couldn't tell when the apples had reached maximum pressure and just kind of winged it. The apples were indeed thoroughly cooked, and extremely mushy. Perfect for squeezing through the sieve.

I set to adding spices and sugar and started the two hour simmering process, stirring occasionally.  I realize now that I was supposed to be stirring the whole time. I'm not sure if that is why the consistency is a bit more like apple sauce or if it's really just the size of the holes in my sieve. In the end I excitedly pulled it off the heat and tested. Too sugary. And too lemony. Well at least it would be good for cakes and bread. Right?

Actually everyone who tried it said it wasn't too sweet at all, and fine to eat. So some of it will find it's way into Aşure Ekmeği which is just a kind of sweet bread with nuts and fruit (YUM). The rest will hopefully be eaten at breakfast.


Now for the second batch. Everything started wonderfully perfect, and aside from adding just a tad too much clove, the taste was perfect (I decided to test-taste before adding the sugar and adjust accordingly). Then I made the very grave mistake of simultaneously having a skype conversation and boiling the apple butter. Which resulted in a burnt bottom. Ok salvageable. But then I went even further and put it into a jar that was too cold (which was room temperature, but I guess the butter was too hot) and proceeded to break the jar. Lovely. Now the second batch has a slightly burnt flavor.

An Accidental Massacre

It was really quite unavoidable. And for that matter, completely unintentional. Well, that is to say, that I was aware of my actions after a certain point, but if I could have avoided it, I would have. But when you are slicing an apple in half, or slicing any part of the apple, really, it is not possible to foresee that your knife is in direct line with a worm. So it is with a very heavy heart that I must admit that I have murdered many many apple worms.

At least I can say that it was all for a good cause. The poor apple tree is completely infested. Most of the apples fall off the tree before they have reached ripeness. August is too early for apples. The apples that manage to cling to the branches are, for the most part, left waiting until they can cling no more. In an effort not to waste such a bounty source of food, we attempt to eat some of them, but there are only so many unripe apples a person can handle. Not to mention that if you eat too many you will most likely get stomach cramps.

The unfortunate pest-ridden tree is facing the death penalty because its fruit is unfit to eat; threats have been made to chop it down. In an effort to save its life, I have set out on a quest to find a use for the apples. My main objective is to avoid as much waste as possible, therefore, I decided the best place to start is with the fallen apples that could be saved. I set about collecting several kilos, soaked them in apple cider vinegar and water, rinsed, chopped, discarded the messy wormy parts, and finally stuffed them in the pressure cooker and set them on the stove. The wonderful smell of apples is beginning to fill the kitchen as my pressure cooker is reaching full pressure. Soon I will have a lovely batch of cooked apples for apple butter!