Apple Cider Pressing and Hearty Cheddar Cheese Potato Soup
We have an apple cider pressing at Pie Cottage each fall and this year was no exception. At noon on Saturday, the pressing began and it continued for over ten hours. 90 gallons had been the highest total up to this year, but on Saturday we blew past that handily to press over 130 gallons! Friends, old and new, bring apples and containers to take home fresh pressed cider as we spend a day together enjoying music, good food, and fun. It is very true that many hands make light work and those hours fly past. Part of my contribution to the day is to make gallons of Hearty Cheddar Cheese Potato Soup, with the last of the potato harvest from my garden. The recipe is on page 171 in Home Cooking, and I will include it at the end of this post for you, too. Now, let me show you a few pictures from an absolutely wonderful day.
P.S. Home Cooking with Kate McDermott just celebrated its first anniversary, and there’s a great sale on right now at Amazon. Here’s the link.
And now for the soup…
HEARTY CHEDDAR CHEESE POTATO SOUP
Ingredients
- 4 cups water or chicken stock
- 4 medium red or Yellow Finn unpeeled potatoes diced
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 2 stalks celery sliced in 1/4 inch half moons
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons all purpose or gluten-free flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 cup parsley minced
Instructions
- Place water or stock in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add potatoes, onions, celery, and salt. Turn heat to medium, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in the flour. Slowly pour in the milk and stir while heating. Whisk in the salt and mustard. Add the cheese and let it melt.
- Pour the milk and cheese mixture into the large pot with the cooked vegetables. Add the parsley. Simmer uncovered over low heat for about 15 minutes. Stir often to make sure it isn’t sticking or burning on the bottom.
Fond memories rekindled of cider pressing that happened in the Fall across from where we lived. There was a large apple orchard. Fresh cider is the best!
It sure is!
Looks like a lot of fun! Question: What do you do with the pomace?
Some of it will go on top of my garden beds, some will be mixed in with the compost, and some will given away to other gardens.
Oh Kate, you bring back wonderful memories of my childhood in Michigan. Mom, my sister and me visiting the cider mill every Fall for cider and fresh made donuts!!! 😋 yummy! I wish I lived closer to you!
Kellen In California.
Ps. I’m swimming today. The fall colors are just beginning but it’s still 80 😎
I wish you did, too, Kellen. 80 degrees. Wow! It’s 48 and pouring right now.
Yuck. Maybe Ide like to visit you but not live there!!!!! When do you think you’ll be in Danville for a pie making class? I can’t wait to sign up🤗👍😋
I’ll be back, just not sure when yet.
Were those 2totes of PEARS in the first pic? I love Apple cider, but pear cider is the best! Who owns the cider press, or do you rent it?
I love perry cider, too. We borrow the cider press every year from friends.
Is the recipe missing some of the assembly instructions ?
Hi Lonnie, Well, oops! Thanks, they should be all fixed now.
Thank you ! Going to give it a try
I hope you like it. You can also add different cheeses. In addition to the cheddar, I put in some grated Reggiano Parmigiano in this year’s version. It was really good!
Wow, this looks like such fun!! I grew up surrounded by orchards and we always did an annual cider press. Great memories!
It sure was!