Apple picking is as easy as pie: Find a local orchard at www.allaboutapples.com and check the site for the maturity dates of different varieties. Some tips for picking ripe apples: Look for trees with sound fruit lying under them (no rotten orbs!), which is a sign that the fruit on the tree is ripe, and apples that easily twist off the branch. (Note: Color isn’t always an indicator of maturity.) Short crust or puff pastry? That’s up to you.