Hey Apple!

As i was on the bus yesterday i noticed out of the window a tree laden with apples and another mound laying around the tree. My first thoughts was wow! apples in a public place and my second oh! what a waste. Usually by this time of year most apples are picked, polished, stored, or eaten but here they were and why? because the tree was at the side of the bypass road that connect the city where i lived with the next one. I think if i lived closer i may have paid it visit.

So today a simple -

Apple Crumble

Makes enough for 4-6

1lb or 600g of cooking apples 

4 tbsp Brown sugar

60g sultanas

add cinnamon

Crumble

200g plain flour

100g butter

100g sugar

2 tbsp lemon juice

Make the crumble first. In a large bowl add the dry ingredients and mix well. Cut the butter into small squares and add to the dry ingredients. Using the tips of your fingers (and thumbs) rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles bread crumbs. Leave to one side.

In a large bowl add some cold water and the lemon juice. Peel, core and chop the apples into mouth-watering pieces and add to the bowl of water (stops the apple going brown). Once all the apples are prepared, drain well and add to the baking dish. Add the sugar and cinnamon and a couple of tbsp water. I like to put my apples in the microwave to get the cooking started, try 3 minutes to start give the apples a stir then put back in for another 2 minutes. Add sultanas. Sprinkle the crumble mix over the apples, smooth out. Cook for 30 minutes in a  medium oven until brown and bubbling.

Serve with custard, ice cream or cream.

NB you can do lots of variations on a similar theme with this one, so once you can do the original, have a bit of fun and try something different - add oats to the crumble or use a different fruit.