Apple of My Eye

There are few dishes more homestyle than fresh apple pie warm from the oven. But there’s more to this versatile fruit than meets the eye.

Apple + Almond Bircher Muesli

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups rolled oats

• 1 cup natural yoghurt

• 1 cup milk

• 1/3 cup slivered almonds

• ½ cup currants

• 1 small Granny Smith apple, grated

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• 1 small apple, to serve

Method

Combine the oats, cinnamon, currants, apple, almonds, milk and yoghurt in a large bowl and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

To serve, divide the mixture between bowls and serve with extra yoghurt, a dash of milk, extra almonds (lightly toasted), extra grated or sliced apple and a drizzle of honey.

Apple Tea Cake

Serves 8

Ingredients

• 180g unsalted butter, softened

• 2 tsp grated lemon rind

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2/3 caster sugar

• 3 eggs

• 1 cup self-raising flour

• ½ cup plain flour

• 1/3 cup milk

• 2 medium apples

• 2 tbsp water

• 1 tsp gelatine

• 2 tbsp apricot jam, strained

Method

Pre-heat oven to 180˚C. In an electric mixer, beat the butter, lemon rind, vanilla and caster sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time until well combined. Sift in both flour and milk and beat gently until smooth. Put mixture in a greased and lined, 20cm springform cake tin and level the top.

Peel, quarter and core the apples. Make cuts lengthways in to the round sides of the apple quarters, cutting about three quarters of the way through. Place the quarters evenly around the edge of the cake, rounded side up.

Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until browned and cooked through.

Heat water in a small pan, add the gelatin and stir until dissolved. Remove from the heat and add the jam. Using a pastry brush, brush the jam mixture over the top of the hot cake. Cool the cake before cutting.

Apple Spritzer

Serves 4

Ingredients

• ¼ cup apple brandy

• ¼ caster sugar

• 1 vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 1 red apple, thinly sliced

• 3 cups soda water

Method

In a small saucepan, place the apple brandy, caster sugar, vanilla and cinnamon stick stirring over a low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Simmer for 10 minutes and then remove from the heat.

Allow the syrup to steep for 1 hour and then place the sliced apple in a jug and add the soda. Spoon the syrup into 4 glasses and pour over the apple soda and serve.

Aunty Glen's Apple Crumble

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 120g unsalted softened butter

• ½ cup self-raising flour

• ½ cup caster sugar

• ½ cup desiccated coconut

• ½ cup powdered milk

• 1 kg Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, quartered and thinly sliced

• 1 tsp cinnamon

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180˚C. In a large bowl add the sliced apple and cinnamon. Mix through until the apples are coated in the cinnamon. Place in a greased baking dish and place in the oven for 10 minutes to warm while you are making the crumble.

Place all dry ingredients in a bowl and add the softened butter. Rub the butter in until you have a fine crumb.

Take the apples from the oven and cover evenly with the crumb. Return to the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until lightly golden.

Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with a big dollop of double thick cream or ice cream or both!