Variation on an apple theme - apple citrus loaves ...

We still have a glut of apples at home, mainly thanks to hubby & the windfalls at the golf course. 

There are several trees, all different so the bag that comes home with him has a real mixture of them.

The little red ones have quite a tough skin but are less prone to bruising. 

The ones that show marks / bruises after a day or so are cut up for the grateful blackbirds & the squirrels seem to have a liking for them too. Better they are eaten up by us & the wildlife than wasted under the trees.

This morning, I decided to make apple cakes again, the third weekend in a row. However, a grapefruit was on the side ready to be eaten so I thought - why not, variation on a theme. Apple & citrus go well.

I washed then zested the whole pink grapefruit, lovely pink strands of peel. I only juiced half a grapefruit & put the zest & juice in a dish. I peeled about 8 different sized apples, cutting 6 in to smaller cubes this time. The cubes were tossed in the juice & zest. 

The other two slightly larger apples were sliced in to thin slices, I left the peel on the red one. 

I made up a double mixture of cake using the same recipe as before.

Below is for 2 apple loaves 

Preheat oven to 160c

Mix 300g of light brown butter with 350g of butter until fluffy. 

Beat in 6 eggs, adding some of the flour if the mixture curdles slightly.

Mix in 400g of self raising flour, 2 tsp baking powder, spices to taste (I used vanilla & cinnamon.)

Fold in the apple cubes as well as the juice & zest mixture with a large spoon.

Spoon the mixture in to 2 lined loaf tins.

Arrange the cut apple slices on the top of the mixture, lightly pressing them in. Sprinkle with some demerara sugar & then bake for 50-55 min in the centre of the oven. Check with a sharp knife after about 45 min, then bake until it comes out clean.

Cool slightly on a rack, pop on the kettle & enjoy. 

This time, I cut the apples smaller & they did not sink as much in the batter, they were more evenly spread out. 

This variation is rather delicious with just a hint of citrus & not as sweet. Really worth a try if you have lots of apples about. It could easily be served as a pudding with a dollop of cream, custard or ice-cream. 

Thank  you for stopping by, it is always appreciated.

Dee 🧑‍🍳🥯🍎🍏

A fruity treat for friends ….

 I am meeting with some friends tomorrow for a late afternoon catch up & thought I really ought to have something to go with our tea at my home. 

They prefer fruit loaves to rich cakes so I decided on a version of an infused banana loaf I had recently made. Infused tea loaf

 I had 2 soft bananas this this is what I made tonight 

Preheat oven to170c 

Deep muffin pans for 12 muffins, lined with paper cases

130g butter

140g dark sugar 

2 eggs

240g self raising flour 

1 tsp baking powder

2 soft bananas, peeled & mashed

100g pitted dates & 50g dried cranberries, soaked in warm black earl grey tea for about 5 min

Tsp of mixed spice & vanilla extract 

Whisk butter & sugar until creamy, add eggs one at a time with a little of the flour then add in the mashed bananas, remaining flour & spices.

Drain the dates & cranberries & mix. 

Spoon into the 12 muffin cases & bake at 170 for about 20 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Mine browned  so keep an eye on your baking or turn the oven down slightly too. 

Cool & enjoy as they are or with some butter 

I decided to test one with my evening tea tonight - delicious. What is a treat you make for friends other than cakes? Do tell & thank you for stopping by … 

Dee👩‍🍳🥯🧈🍪🍰

Early morning baking - date, banana & cranberry muffins ...

 Hi there, 

Do you find that yourself doing some baking on the spur of the moment? I stopped off at our local farm shop & they have a policy of 'War on Waste' so fresh items are regularly put in the basket when the shelves are restocked. I often pick up a bag of local apples that are reduced to share with our many blackbirds in the garden. That is their absolute favourite snack. 

Today there was 2 bags of lovely bananas, the one bag just getting dark spots on the skins & I knew they were perfect for date & banana bread.  I knew I had everything else so it was a good find. 

The pack of dates was leftover from Christmas, the cranberries & blueberry mix is from the health shop grape tree - it is a lovely combination to keep at home. 

I have shared the recipe I use before  for banana bread  / date, cranberry & banana bread - I always pop a few muffins in the freezer for when we want something. 

The spices can be what you life - cinnamon, mixed spice etc I use less sugar when adding dates or cranberries as they are sweet. It is a favourite in our home & perfect for using up soft bananas or random bits.  

I hope you are inspired to bake some too, let me know if you do, 

Dee 💕