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The Cider House Recipes

My father and I took a ride up to Door County yesterday. Neither of us had ever been there before, so we decided to see what all the fuss is about. Frankly, both of us were floored by the beauty of the place. It’s hard to believe this little paradise is only a few hours from Brew City.

It’s a tourist trap, of course, but what a fantastic tourist trap it is! We took Highway 57 up the eastern side of the peninsula, stopping for a quick lunch at a friendly little place called Sandpiper Restaurant. Next on the way was my new favorite spot on earth - Koepsel’s Farm Market. Oh. My. God. I was like a kid in a candy store, as I greedily snatched up a fine selection of orchard-grown goods that included strawberry/rhubarb pie filling (hello Thanksgiving Replay!), raspberry applesauce, peach applesauce, and, of course, a gallon of fresh apple cider. The best part? Online ordering available year-round, baby! I can’t wait to enjoy the infinite cornucopia of Wisconsin deliciousness.

Upon reaching the northernmost tip, neither of us wanted to wait for the ferry over to Washington Island, so we turned back and headed down Highway 42 on the western side once we passed through Sister Bay. We stopped in Peninsula State Park for some snapshots, and I’ll tell ya - the scenery was positively staggering. Camping plans for 2009 are already in the works.

Final verdict? We both loved it. Great suggestion, Dad.