17 Nov Apples, Apples & More Apples
As part of my new Waste Not Want Not series I wanted to share with you my first ever edition and maybe you could tell me what you think and if it is useful, enlightening or just plain rubbish?!
You may or may not know but I hate waste with a passion, any time, energy and effort that is invested in a product, especially something perishable, makes it far too valuable to just discard without a thought.
It is believed we throw away around £600+ worth of food every year, that is like doing a weekly shop and each time leaving a full shopping bag in the car park and driving away, you would certainly never knowingly do that but it amounts to the same thing. I try to make use of everything even though sometimes it can be a real challenge. I like the challenge, it is what I believe in.
In the autumn there is always such an abundance of apples, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall once said that no-one in the UK should have to pay for apples during the apple harvest because there’s always such a plentiful supply. I know we never do.
So here it is…. Apples, Apples & More Apples
Apples
One a day should keep the doctor away or so they say and I think that is probably fairly justified, apples are loaded with goodness and are one of the healthiest foods around.
Each apple contains amongst other things, calcium and magnesium for bones and muscles, potassium for heart and nerves, vitamin C for immunity and, beta carotene (which, in a healthy body, converts to vitamin A) for good eye health and to fight infections.
On top of that, apples are low calorie and contain lots of fibre, they can help reduce cholesterol, relieve constipation, increase good gut bacteria and improve detoxification.
Is that all?!
No it isn’t….. Apples are great carriers for both cinnamon and ginger each with their own amazing additional health benefits.
So what are you waiting for, go and have an apple!
Apple and Cinnamon Porridge.
*Soak porridge oats overnight in filtered water, in the morning add a tsp each of cinnamon and honey and a little milk of your choice. Cook through gently before adding half a grated apple, or apple chunks if you prefer. Take off the heat and serve immediately with a handful of walnuts. It’s like a hug in a bowl!
Dried Apple Rings
Slice apples thinly into rounds and lay on a lightly greased baking tray, place in the oven at 80°C for approx. 4 hours, or until dry.
Fruit Leathers
These are perfect for using up a glut of apples and make a great addition to any lunchbox.Peel, core and chop 1kg apples, place in a pan with a very small amount of water and cook gently until they are soft. Place in a blender with a peeled banana and blitz until smooth. Prepare 2-3 baking trays by covering with good quality cling film and pour a thin layer of the mix onto each tray, spreading with a pallet knife. Place into a warmed oven, 80°C for approx. 12 hours. Yeah it takes a while but it is worth it! You will want to make it again and again.
Kick start your day smoothie
Take a handful of kale, a chopped, cored (but unpeeled) apple, half a lemon and a slice of fresh ginger, blitz until smooth. Drink straight away if you can or refrigerate for up to 24 hours if you must!
Rustic Apple Surprise
These are my favourite puddings, maybe not the healthiest but they could be worse! Make up a portion of stewed apple by peeling, chopping and coring 5-6 eating or cooking apples, put in a pan with a little water and brown sugar to taste, cook until soft. In the meantime take half a pack of ginger nut biscuits, smash with a rolling pin in a bag and divide broken bits of biscuit between 4 cups or glasses. Cover with the cooked apple now cooled, a good dollop of lemon curd (recipe for this on lemons page!) and a layer of thick greek yoghurt. Delicious!
Kale & Apple Soup
There is always soup on the menu at our house, if there’s fruit or veg hanging about with no home to go to, it soon gets whipped up into a hearty soup. Saves waste (which I love) and is always good for you. This is a perfect one, especially when the apple trees have produced a lot of fruit and we are running out of new things to do with them!
Gently fry one chopped onion in a little olive oil, after a few minutes add a large chopped potato and continue to cook for another minute or two. Add 2 cloves chopped garlic and 1 litre veg stock, bring to the boil and cook for approx. 5 minutes before adding 2 good handfuls of chopped kale, 2 cored, chopped apples and a grind of salt and pepper. My soup recipes are very sketchy but always taste perfect! Making soup is never an exact science, as far as I’m concerned, anything goes!
Salad & Coleslaw
Our salads are always a cross between garden salad and fruit salad, which my kids love. Chopped apples add an extra zing to any salad. Other fruits that are great are kiwis, pomegranate, orange, crunchy pear and mango.
Apples are also perfect grated into coleslaw. I’ll come to this again later in the cabbage section!
Apple & Cranberry Chutney
The perfect Christmas gift. I am not a great fan of chutney but probably only because I rarely eat cheese or sandwiches. I do know plenty of people who love it though, so this is a firm favourite on my ‘home-made’ Christmas list.
1 kg cooking apples and 500g eating apples peeled and chopped into small chunks
450g sliced onions
1 tsp peppercorns
500g granulated sugar
250ml apple cider vinegar
500g fresh cranberries
Place everything except the cranberries into a large saucepan, on a low heat, stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Increase the heat and bring the mixture to the boil, reduce to a simmer for approx. 50 mins, stirring occasionally until the mixture has thickened nicely and the apples have softened.
For the final 10 mins add the cranberries and cook through.
Sterilise the jars in a 100°c oven for a few mins then ladle in the chutney, seal and allow to cool before storing in a cool, dark place. It will keep for up to 6 months. Keep refrigerated once open.
Apple & Cinnamon Pie with a Hazelnut Crust
Not quite managed to do this one yet but wanted to post this so it will follow shortly, I promise!
Mid-Morning Apple rings snack
Core one apple with an apple corer then slice into rounds spread each round with nut better and scatter pumpkin seeds and/or goji berries. A perfect quick and easy snack.
*Soaking Oats……. Always soak oats to increase nutritional value and reduce Phytic Acid which affect the all important nutrient abs