Mom's First Morning of Summer Vacation Apple Turnovers

 

So while I was in Virginia, the guy (aka Fred) who designed and built the Earlysville Raceway added to his price negotiations that I would also have to make him apple turnovers like my Mom used to make them.  Of course, he had me in the negotiation, since I was desperate for a pen to secure the Pointer Sisters during my visits - so on the Saturday before I returned to South Carolina I made the turnovers for Fred.

A deal is a deal, right?

I wasn't exactly sure what turnovers he was thinking about - but I defaulted to the only ones that I knew.  When my brother and I were young - each summer our parents took us on a family vacation.  Usually we'd drive somewhere - the Florida coast, Niagara Falls, the Great Smokey Mountains, or Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - and we'd always leave insanely early (my parents didn't want to miss a minute of vacation time).  But regardless of how early we would leave, Mom would get up before all of us, and make apple turnovers.  It was an easy recipe - and they were as good warm as they were cold.  So of course you'd get one before you left the house - and then she'd wrap up the remainder for the drive.

~~~~~

To make them, you first cook the apples.  I usually cook golden delicious apples (about 4 or 5 large ones) on the stove top over medium heat (add a little bit of water to a pan, slices of apple minus the peel, and some cinnamon).  When they are soft, take them off the stove and drain the liquid.  While they're cooking, crack open one of those 'cannisters' containing eight biscuits (the larger biscuits) - and with a rolling pin flatten the biscuits into a thin circle.  When the apples are done, place some apple on half of the biscuit circle, then fold over the other half and use a fork to secure the end of the turnover.  Then heat some canola oil (just a thin layer of oil - it doesn't take much) in a fry pan and when it's hot, put the turnovers in the oil.  Once one side browns, flip them over and brown the other side.  When they're done, dust with cinnamon sugar...and eat.

Then - run get in your car, roll the windows down - and get on the road.  Your're on vacation!

Comments

[jeff]

Damn, all we ever got were those crappy hostess fruit pies! (as I recall, we used to LOVE them)... Glad you're home.

[Les]

Those sound good. Our go-to road trip food was James River brand deviled ham. My mom would cut the saltiness of it with mayo and pickle relish. I have not seen it in stores in years, it use to have a picture of a white gloved, dark skinned butler on the label, serving platter in hand, not very PC.

[Kate]

that is awesome! I have such strong memories of my father and food...sourdough pancakes...green ones on St. Patty's...pancakes on Saturday, French toast on Sunday...I am glad your mom left you so many cool things.

[CK]

That photo looks like it could be a still life painting - I love it! And by the way, our next door neighbor's Japanese maple is shedding it's bark, making all sorts of neat patterns and it makes me think of you every day when I see it.