Apples

Apple and Walnut cake

Ingredients

½ cup butter, cut in small cubes and softened in microwave

1 ½ cups flour self raising or if not add 2 teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup sugar

2 eggs beaten

½ cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla essence (opt)

1 cup chopped apple

For streusel topping

½ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ cup walnuts

3 tablespoons butter

Method

Blend butter, sugar and remaining dry ingredients till well combined.  Add eggs, milk and vanilla if using, mix till combine and then add apples.  Spread into tin.  Make topping by either chopping walnuts up small and mixing with melted butter spice and sugar, or by whizzing in food processor.  I prefer the first option as the walnut pieces are larger and sink down into the cake creating a lovely marbling effect. The second way the mix stays on top of the cake. Sprinkle the streusel mix on top and bake at 180 degrees C. for 40 minutes.

Both went into the oven at the same time, the cottage pie took half an hour and I have to say that puy lentils are great, they are far meatier than ordinary lentils, I will be buying them again!

Gran’s Fruity Cakey Dessert

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups s/r flour or plain flour with 1 ½ tsp BP

¾ cup sugar

120g melted butter

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

Topping – fruit of choice

2 tbsp. sugar

Method

Combine flour, sugar, butter vanilla and eggs.  Put in greased pan and top with chopped fruit.  Sprinkle the sugar on top and bake 180 Celsius for up to one hour.  Serve with custard, cream or plain yogurt.  This really freezes well.

Caramel Apple Pancakes

This is a method more than a recipe.  Serves 2.

Slice one apple and fry it in butter gently

While the apples were frying make some batter from 1 cup (4 oz or 125 gm) s/r flour, 1 egg and enough milk to make a thickish batter.

Pour batter over apples and continue to cook till bubbles appear.  At this point I had a problem as I tried to turn the pancake over it fell apart.  But I went with it as I thought it looked rustic.

Cook till it is puffed up and golden underneath.  You cant put the pancake in the oven to finish off.  But I like the look of it broken up as it looked like real comfort food and it is quicker this way.

Yummy with a scoop of whipped cream!