The Broad Palate – Sept ’25

September already – where summer meets autumn. It looks like this year will bring bumper crops – here are two apple recipes I hope you’ll enjoy.

Pork, Apple and Cider Casserole – serves 4

  • Olive oil;
  • 6 pork shoulder steaks, trimmed of fat and cut into large chunks;
  • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed;
  • 2 medium onions, halved and sliced;
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar;
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and roughly chopped;
  • 3 sticks of celery, de-strung and roughly chopped;
  • 4 small eating apples, unpeeled, cored and cut into wedges;
  • 250ml chicken or vegetable stock;
  • 500ml dry cider;
  • 30g butter;
  • 75ml double cream;
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard;
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley;
  • 1 tbsp chopped sage (or 1 tsp dried);
  • salt and pepper.

Method:

Season the meat with salt and pepper. Heat oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
Heat a slug of oil in a large, ovenproof casserole dish or ovenproof frying pan with lid and brown the pork pieces in batches. Remove from the pan and reserve.
Add the onions to the casserole/pan and cook for 15 minutes until soft and browned, then add 1 tbsp of the sugar and cook for another 5 minutes until slightly caramelised.
Add the garlic, carrots and celery, and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Return the pork to the casserole/pan, along with the cider and stock. Cover and cook in the oven for 90 minutes – 2 hours or until the port is tender.
When it’s ready, fry the apple wedges in the butter and remaining 1 tbsp sugar until golden and caramelised.
Add to the casserole, along with the cream, mustard and sage, then stir gently to combine.
Return to the oven for 30 minutes.
Garnish with the parsley before serving with perhaps mash or sauté potatoes and greens.

Invisible Apple Cake (serves 6-8)

Based on the French favourite, Gâteau Invisible aux Pommes, it takes its name from the way in which the thin slices of apple appear to disappear into the batter. Some add a thin layer of crumble topping before baking, which adds texture. – I think the ‘less is more’ option is better, so no crumble on this one!

  • 175g plain flour, sifted;
  • 1 heaped tsp baking powder (7g);
  • 30g butter, melted, plus extra to grease pan;
  • 3 medium eggs;
  • 70g caster sugar;
  • 70g light brown sugar;
  • 120ml milk;
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract;
  • 1.25 kilos eating apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced.
  • You will need a 900g loaf tin.

Method:

Heat oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.5.
Grease and line the loaf tin, leaving an overhang of paper to aid removal from tin.
In a small bowl, combine the flour and baking powder and set aside.
In another bowl, whisk the melted butter until smooth then whisk in the milk.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and sugars with an electric whisk, until the whisk leaves thick ribbons of batter when lifted.
Gently fold in the flour, then the milk-butter mixture and mix until you have a smooth batter.
Carefully fold the apples into the batter, making sure all the apples are coated.
Spoon half the batter into the tin and gently press down to make sure there are no gaps, then add the remaining mixture.
Tamp down lightly again, then knock the base of the tin on your work surface to remove as many air pockets as possible.
Sprinkle the top with a little more sugar, then bake for 50-60 minutes or until the top is a deep golden brown and a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean.
Leave to cool for at least 15 minutes before removing from the tin, then cool completely before serving.
Use a knife dipped in hot water when slicing, for an even surface. Nice with cream or ice-cream.

Ann’s previous recipes:

#Broadwindsor #Blackdown #Burstock #Drimpton #Hursey #Kittwhistle #Seaborough #Dorset #WestDorset #Community #Village #September #AppleCake #Pork #Apple #Cider #Casserole  #TheBroadPalate #Recipe #Summer #Food #HomeCooking #YumYum #BeTempted #CookWithKids #Enjoy #BeSafe #StaySafe #BeKind

The Bishops’ Kitchen – Mar 21

Two recipes for children to make for Mothering Sunday on 14th March.

APPLE & CINNAMON MUFFINS

2 eating apples, 250g spelt flour or plain flour, 2tsp baking powder, 2tsp ground cinnamon, 125g light brown flour sugar plus 4tsp for sprinkling, 125ml honey, 60ml runny natural yogurt,  125ml vegetable oil, 2 eggs, 75g unblanched almonds, 1 muffin tray lined with papers.

Method:

Peel & core 2 apples & chop into small dice. Place flour baking powder & 1tsp cinnamon into bowl. Whisk together sugar, honey, yogurt, oil & eggs in another bowl. Chop almonds roughly & add half into flour mixture.  Put the rest into a small bowl with the second 1tsp cinnamon & the extra 4tsp brown sugar & mix this is for the topping for the muffins. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry, add the chopped apple & stir in the apple but do not over mix. Spoon the mixture into the muffin papers then sprinkle with the topping mixture. Bake for about 20 mins @ 200c/gas mark 6. They should have risen & become golden. Remove & leave to stand for 5 mins before carefully placing on wire rack to cool.

COCONUT & CHERRY BANANA BREAD

125g unsalted butter, 4 med bananas approx. 500g with skin on, 150g sugar, 2 eggs, 175g plain flour, 2tsp baking powder ,½ tsp bicarbonate of soda, 100g dried cherries, 100g desiccated coconut, 1x 900g loaf tin with liner & grease the sides.

Method:

Melt the butter in a saucepan & take off heat. In another bowl peel & mash bananas. Beat the sugar into the cooled melted butter in a bowl and add the bananas & eggs. Fold in the flour, baking powder & bicarb then add cherries & coconut. When everything is well mixed pour & scrape everything into the loaf tin & smooth on top. Bake for about 50 mins. When ready the bread will be coming from the sides & feel quite bouncy on top. Remove from oven & leave in tin for 10mins then place on rack to cool.

All recipes are from village resident, Richard Childs.Scroll#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#TheBishopsKitchen,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#RichardChilds,#Cooking,#Baking,#KidsInTheKitchen,#Recipe,#MothersDay,#Muffins,#BananaBread,#Steak,#Apple,#Cinnamon,#Cherry#Delicious,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe