Celebrating an abundance of apples

The apple festival organizers have shared some of their favorite recipes.

Apple crisp in microwave

6 apples, sliced and peeled

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon water

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup margarine, softened

Place apples in a 2 quart square, microwave-safe dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon, water and lemon juice. Combine remaining ingredients, mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples.

Microwave on high for 12 to 14 minutes or until apples are tender. Rotate dish one-quarter turn once during cooking.

Apple pancakes

Heat a heavy griddle on medium high. Measure the following ingredients into a medium bowl.

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons oil

2 cups milk

1 apple, peeled and chopped

Stir together. The batter will be lumpy. Pour onto hot griddle, it will be ready to turn over when bubbles appear on top. Lower heat if browning occurs too fast.

If you have a hankering for apples, then Riverside Christian Adventist School is the place to be next Sunday.

That’s when apples in many varieties will be available for sale.

There are boxes and boxes of Hood River apples, as well as apple pies, apple dumplings and a “sweets” booth. The event also includes a giant slide, bounce house, games, country store, rummage sale and vendor booths.

“There are usually lots of people here and it’s a real community event,” Principal Dan Wister said. “All the proceeds benefit our students and the scholarship program.”

Students, staff and parent volunteers are working feverishly to assemble approximately 400 pies in time for the apple festival.

The pies are then frozen overnight at the Washougal Safeway deep freezer. Bob’s Red Mill in Portland donates all the flour. Camas Produce will provide all the apples.

In addition to all things apple, there will also be nachos, burgers and veggie burgers available for purchase.

Despite the damp weather last year, Wister said approximately 1,000 people attended the event.

“Everyone who runs this event is a volunteer,” he said. “We absolutely wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”

The apple festival is the school’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

“It’s a really good time and it benefits the kids,” Wister said. “I encourage people to come and meet their neighbors, and support our school. We’re here to serve the whole community.”

The Apple Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. Cash and checks are accepted for purchases, but credit cards are not. Riverside Adventist Christian School is located at 463 N. Shepherd Road in Washougal.