Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Too good to waste ...

Whilst on a trip down to Dorset to see family on the weekend, I  was told to take what apples were left on the small orchard as they were now falling & with Winter approaching, would only go to waste.

 
I duly picked the remaining ones from the various trees - some small, some large, some sweet, some toe curling tart & brought them back with me.


What to do with them?

 
Kitchen Diaries by Nigel Slater provided the answer - English Apple Cake


 Do you have post-its sticking out of your favourite recipe books too?


The only change I made was to use organic wholemeal flour ....

English Apple Cake by Nigel Slater (from The Kitchen Diaries)

A slim, moist cake, best served warm, that will keep for a day or two wrapped in foil.

butter -130g
unrefined caster sugar - 130g
'eating apples' - 3
the juice of half a lemon
ground cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoon
Demerara sugar - 2 tablespoons
eggs - 2 large
plain flour - 130g
baking powder - a teaspoon
fresh white breadcrumbs - 3 tablespoons
a little extra sugar

Set the oven at 180C / Gas 4. Line the base of a square (I used round) 24cm cake tin about 6cm deep with baking parchment.

Put the butter & caster sugar in a food mixer & beat till light & fluffy. Whilst this is happening, cut the apples into small chunks, removing the cores as you go & dropping the fruit into a bowl with the juice of the half a lemon. (drain) Toss the apples with the cinnamon & Demerara sugar.

Break the eggs, beat them with a fork, then gradually add them to the butter & sugar. Sift the flour & baking powder together & fold them gently into the mixture. Scrape into a lined cake tin. Put the spiced apples on the top of the cake mixture, then scatter with the breadcrumbs & a little more Demerara sugar.

Bake for 55 minutes to an hour. The edges should be browning nicely & the centre firm. Leave to cool for 10 minutes or so before turning out. Eat warm.

Enough for 8



The question now is - a slice with tea or a slice as pudding after supper?

Decisions, decisions, decisions?

Do you use up the free offerings of fruit & vegetables that come your way?
Thanks for stopping by, always lovely to get feedback
Dee ~♥~

6 comments:

  1. Looks delicious! I'll have to give it a try.

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    1. It was good Debs - though it could have done with 5 less minutes as the phone rang & I got side tracked. It is always good to use up fresh stuff ...

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  2. I never turn down free pickin's! One time we picked 13 quarts of blackeyed peas for free! Love the apple tart recipe....just plain YUM! I just happened to have some fresh apples from Georgia handy....thanks for the recipe, Dee!

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    Replies
    1. A person after my own heart Lynda - good on you! Hope your apple cake turns out as good as this one!

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  3. it looks hearty, wholesome and utterly delicious....thanks for sharing the recipe xx

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    Replies
    1. Very tasty Mrs B - I love apples & this was just right! xx

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