Gary Apples

Whenever I go to visit my favorite farmer friend in Indiana, I ride the South Shore Rail. Sometimes I get off in Gary, Indiana. That city doesn't have the best reputation, but has endeared itself to me just a little. How? Well, one time I saw Michael Jackson's childhood home there.

But last week, while waiting for my train in the Gary Metro parking lot, I saw an apple tree right there in the parking lot, on the little curb strip separating "employee" and "general" spaces. I needed to run to catch the train, but my gentleman friend collected apples for me. (He is pretty respectful and took only fallen apples, whereas I probably would've helped myself from the branches--it was a parking lot, and they were just sitting there ready to rot!).

I thought they might be crab apples, and fit only for applesauce. However, they were surprisingly tasty! Tart, crisp, with a few with bad spots or little holes. Good for careful munching and definitely for baking! It is kind of refreshing to get small, variously sized apples instead of big, uniform ones like the grocery sells.