We have two apple trees in our garden and every year I see it as a personal challenge to see how many of them I can use. This year's crop hasn't been amazing, but it hasn't stopped me filling the freezer with apple purée for the Hels' Bakehouse granola and for stirring into my morning porridge with some scavenged blackberries from the woods.
For puddings there have been apple pies and my favourite Chocolate Apple Betty recipe from Nigel Slater's Real Food book. This is also a great way to use up bread crumbs which make a delicious crunchy topping which is so much tastier then a crumble.
The Bread Club got a harvest time treat of Apple & Cider bread which smelt amazing as it baked and was the perfect accompaniment to some nice strong cheddar.
Most satisfyingly my store cupboard is also now full of beautifully coloured apple & chilli jelly and Beetroot, apple & ginger chutney made with beetroots gifted to me from our local allotments.
The annual apple challenge has become part of the ritual of the McGougan year. It captures the memories of the summer and makes me feel like a wholesome, thrifty housewife, whilst all else around me remains in chaos. But most importantly it heralds the start of warm tasty dinners and treats stored up for the winter months ahead and is a damn good excuse for a tasty calorie laden pudding that sort of counts as one of your five a day. Waste not, want not and with any luck with the amount of apples I've eaten over the last few weeks the doctor should be in for a quiet few months ahead.
