WINDFALLS FROM THE ORCHARD

It's still very Autumnal here. 

Leaves are slowly leaving their branches

and we're collecting numerous 'windfalls' from the orchard.

 

 

One particular tree has some lovely juicy red cooking apples.

We can't eat them quick enough before more fall. It's difficult to decide what to make with them as we have apples 'coming out of our ears', 

 but today I made three small upside-down toffee apple puddings.

They are perfect for a Autumn pudding and delicious with a dollop of crème fraîche.

Here's the gorgeous recipe -

 Instead of making three little cakes as I did, 

you can combine all the ingredients to make one larger size which shows off 

the pretty fan shaped apples.

Serves 6- 8

topping

75g (3oz) light muscovado sugar

50g (20z) butter

 
3 red dessert or cooking apples, core removed and thinly sliced

sponge 

100g (4oz) butter

100g (4oz) caster sugar

2 eggs

175g (6oz) self-raising flour plus 1tsp baking powder

zest of 1 small lemon

Grease a 20cm (8") deep cake tin and line the base. 

Measure the ingredients for the topping into a pan.  

Place on low heat, stir until just melted and pour into the prepared tin.  

Lay apple slices in a spiral on top.

Measure the ingredients for the sponge together into a bowl, beat until smooth.  

Spoon over the apple (the mixture is fairly stiff) and spread out evenly to cover.

Bake in a preheated oven 180C/160CFan/Gas 4 for about 40 - 45 minutes.

Leave to cool for a couple of minutes in the tin.

 Invert onto a serving plate, 

remove the paper and serve warm with custard, cream or crème fraîche.

Taken from Lucy Young - Aga Easy

A VISIT TO AMSTERDAM

Taking time off from house renovations, 

I managed a trip to the beautiful city of Amsterdam.  

Wow! what a treat for the senses that was.......such a cool and interesting place. 

Lots of bikes....

a bit of culture...... 

inspirational images at the exhibitions of photographer Vivian Maier 

and painter Marlene Dumas. 

then onto an emotive visit to Anne Frank's house.

House shopping at Weldadd, Raw Materials and Sissy Boy. 

 

 Seasonal vegetables and herbs at the local market.

stopping to look at the graffiti...

and more on the pavements.... (translated means 'dogs must poo in the gutter')

This probably accounts for the reason Amsterdam is clean and not smelly!!!

and finally, 

stunning food at De Kas restaurant located in the impressive renovated 1926 greenhouse. 

Here they grow their own Mediterranean vegetables, herbs and edible flowers,

along with seasonal vegetables they harvest on their farmland in the Beemster area. 
Simply healthy, gorgeous food.