Autumn 2011
Try our tasty apple pie recipe
As we make a final farewell to the summer, a fun autumn activity for all the family is apple picking. You get to spend some time in nature, everyone gets a little bit of exercise and you can teach the kids the importance of fresh fruit.
The perfect place and well known for its apples is County Armagh – known as the Orchard County but there’s pick-your-own farms across Northern Ireland.
Here’s a few tips to make the day a success.
Before you go: Before you leave the house, call ahead to confirm they have fruit in season. If it’s good weather, other families will be thinking the same as you and you may arrive and all the fruit is picked.
Pack snacks, drinks, wet wipes and a camera for some nice family snaps. If you can’t resist the fruit as you pick it, bring a knife so that you can peel or cut out bad bits as you pick the apples.
Make sure you and your kids are wearing comfortable clothing and wellies. The fields may be muddy, especially if it has been raining, and it will mean everyone’s feet are warm and dry.
If you have smaller children, consider a carrier instead of a pushchair, as it most likely going to be pretty hard work, if you try and get through a bumpy and muddy field.
At the farm: When you get to the farm, ask where are the best fruit picking areas. Remember that with apples, the ones on the outside of the tree ripen first and when picking don’t shake the branches to get to the apples, gently pluck off in a twisting motion.
Don’t just throw the fruit into your container, show your children how to gently place them inside the bucket, so you have as few bruises as possible.
Back home: Now you have lots of lovely fresh fruit, be it apples, blackberries or something other tasty soft fruit, what are you going to do with them? Here’s a scrumptious apple recipe to get you started. A tasty apple pie with fudge pieces and a crispy crumble topping.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 Minutes
Cooking time: 60 Minutes
Nutrition per serving: 829 cals, 46g fat, of which 15g saturated fat, 58g added sugar, 5g salt
You will need
• ¾ x 500g block frozen jus-rol shortcrust pastry, defrosted
• 100g unsalted butter
• 100g granulated sugar
• 500g bramley apples, peeled, cored and sliced (approximately 3 apples)
• 125g Taste the Difference maple fudge, cut into 1cm pieces
• 1/2 x 454g pack topping for crumble
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of 5mm.
2. Use to line a 20cm loose bottomed shallow cake tin.
3. Prick the base with a fork, cover and place in the fridge until needed. In a large frying pan heat the butter and sugar until liquid like, then add the apple and cook for 5-7 minutes or until tender.
4. Drain and cool slightly. Remove the case from the fridge and fill with the drained apple along with the fudge pieces.
5. Finish with the crumble topping. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 50-60 minutes or until the crumble topping is golden brown.
Spiced open apple pie
Images to be used – apple picking little boy