Frome Apple Day 2011

Posted on 20/09/2011 by Helen

Frome’s Apple Day 2011 was on Sunday 16th October, 1 – 4pm, at St John’s First School, Christchurch Street East, BA11 1QG.

Thank you to all those who came along, and thank you to the many people who helped out and supported us. It was a fantastic afternoon, and we loved seeing so many children having a go at pressing apples and trying the games.

Congratulations to those who won our competitions – more details to be added later – and well done to all those that had a go at peeling, bobbing, rolling and everything else.

Pictures to be added soon. Also, we’re hoping there might be a picture or two in the Somerset Standard this week – so make sure you pick up a copy.

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Communal apple press – still some availability

Posted on 23/10/2011 by Helen

The communal apple press – one of the two used on Apple Day – is available for hire. Hire periods are usually Mon-Fri or Sat-Sun; and each hire period is £10. There is also a crusher (or miller) supplied as part of the kit. For more information, email helenjohnstone@yahoo.com.

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Sue’s West Country Apple Cake

Posted on 07/10/2011 by Helen
This is Sue Bucklow’s famous apple cake – a hit with everyone who’s tried it. It appeared in the St John’s School newsletter on 16th September.

Sue’s West Country Apple Cake
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Recipe type: cake
Author: Sue Bucklow
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour 15 mins
Serves: 6 – 8
Ingredients
  • 100g butter
  • 175g soft dark brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 225g plain flour
  • 1 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 450 g cooking apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 3 – 4 tbsp milk (could use water)
Instructions
  1. Grease and line a deep cake tin, 18 cm in diameter.
  2. Cream together the butter and sugar, add the eggs gradually, beating well.
  3. Add flour, spices and baking powder. Beat, then fold in apples and enough milk (or water) to give a soft dropping consistency.
  4. Bake for 1 hour at Gas 3 / 170C / 325F.

 

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Fruity coleslaw

Posted on 07/10/2011 by Helen
It’s an unusual mix of fruits in a coleslaw, but actually gives you four out of your five-a-day requirement in one dish! Note that this recipe makes a large quantity of salad.

Fruity coleslaw
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Recipe type: salad
Author: Charlotte Popescu, The Apple Cookbook
Prep time: 15 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 6 – 8
Ingredients
  • 2 crisp red eating apples (eg. Spartan or Discovery)
  • 2 oranges, peeled
  • 225g seedless green and purple grapes, halved
  • 225g white cabbage, shredded
  • 2 tbsp chopped chives
  • 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
  • 4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp clear honey
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper
Instructions
  1. Make the dressing by mixing together the lemon juice, honey, olive oil and salt and pepper.
  2. Slice the apples thinly and toss in the dressing.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix together.

 

 

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Thai style green apple salad

Posted on 04/10/2011 by Helen
Thai flavours on an apple and tomato salad – this is definitely one for the experimental.

Thai style green apple salad
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Recipe type: salad
Author: BBC Good Food magazine
Prep time: 15 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 shallots , finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 5 sharp green apples , such as Granny Smiths, cored and cut into thin strips
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 6 cherry tomatoes , cut into quarters
  • 2 tbsp dry roasted peanuts , crushed
  • handful coriander leaves, chopped
  • for the dressing:
  • 1 garlic clove , finely chopped
  • 1 red chilli , seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • juice 2 limes
Instructions
  1. To make the dressing, whizz together the garlic, chilli and sugar in a food processor to make a rough paste. Add the fish sauce and lime juice, then season to taste.
  2. Fry the shallots in the oil for around 5 mins or until they are crisp and golden brown. Then remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Toss the apple in the lime juice, then mix with the tomatoes and dressing. Spoon onto plates and top with the peanuts, crisp shallots and coriander.

 

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Cheese and apple muffins

Posted on 01/10/2011 by Helen
These savoury muffins freeze well. You can take one out of the freezer in the morning, and it will be ready to eat at lunchtime.

Cheese and apple muffins
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Recipe type: snack
Author: Helen Johnstone
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 18 mins
Total time: 33 mins
Serves: 12 muffins
Ingredients
  • 200g plain flour
  • 40g oats
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • a little salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 250g Greek yoghurt (or other plain yoghurt)
  • 60 ml olive oil
  • about 150g cheddar, grated
  • one cooking apple, grated
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 200 C.
  2. Mix together the flour, oats, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and a little salt.
  3. Whisk the eggs with the yoghurt and olive oil.
  4. Pour the egg mixture on top of the dry ingredients and stir together with a spatula until just mixed, then stir the cheese and apple in gently. (Too much stirring can make the muffins dense and chewy.)
  5. Spoon into muffin cases and bake for about 18 mins.

 

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Waldorf salad

Posted on 30/09/2011 by Helen
A version of classic.

Waldorf salad
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Recipe type: Salad
Author: Charlotte Popescu
Prep time: 30 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 450g eating apples, cored and sliced
  • juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 150 ml mayonnaise
  • 1 lettuce
  • 4 sticks of celery, sliced
  • 50g walnut pieces
Instructions
  1. Cover the slices of apple with the lemon juice to prevent them going brown.
  2. Add the sugar and some of the mayonnaise and leave to stand for 30 minutes.
  3. Place lettuce leaves in a bowl with the celery, walnut, rest of the mayonnaise and the apple mixture. Mix gently and serve immediately.

 

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Apple Chutney

Posted on 28/09/2011 by Helen
Here’s the chutney recipe featured in the St John’s First School newsletter on 23rd September.

Apple Chutney
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Recipe type: condiment
Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 4 hours
Total time: 4 hours 20 mins
Serves: plenty
Ingredients
  • 1.5kg apples
  • 500g onions
  • 500g sultanas
  • 750g demerara sugar
  • 500ml white wine vinegar
  • zest and juice of two lemons
  • 1 small chilli
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • pinch of ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 8 peppercorns
  • 1 tbsp mustard seeds
Instructions
  1. Finely chop fruit and veg.
  2. Put all ingredients in a pan and bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
  3. Simmer slowly for four hours until thick, stirring from time to time.

 

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Cheese and apple sandwiches

Posted on 26/09/2011 by Helen
This is a very vague recipe – and there is plenty of room for improvement. A more interesting dressing to mix with the cheese and apple would definitely be a good idea!

Cheese and apple sandwiches
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Recipe type: sandwich
Author: Helen Johnstone
Prep time: 10 mins
Total time: 10 mins
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • Handful of grated cheese, probably Cheddar
  • 1 apple, grated
  • 1 – 2 tbpns creme fraiche or plain yoghurt
  • 2 slices bread
Instructions
  1. Mix the cheese and apple together with the enough creme fraiche to make it easy to spread out on a slice of bread.
  2. Top with the other slice of bread.

 

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Pasta, prawn and apple salad

Posted on 26/09/2011 by Helen
Here’s a salad recipe that looks quite straightforward. It is untested at the moment, so please tell us what you think, if you try this one.

Pasta, prawn and apple salad
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Recipe type: salad
Author: from The Apple Cookbook, Charlotte Popescu
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Serves: 2 – 4
Ingredients
  • 150g pasta shells
  • 150 ml apple juice
  • 1 tsp chopped mint
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • salt and pepper
  • 225g peeled prawns
  • 2 crisp eating apples (granny smiths, perhaps), cored and chopped
  • lettuce leaves
Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta, drain and allow to cool. Whisk together the apple juice, white wine vinegar and chopped mint, adding a little salt and pepper. Dry the prawns with a little kitchen paper. Mix the pasta, prawns, apple and dressing together, and chill until ready to serve. Serve on the chopped lettuce.
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