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:

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The Bishops’ Kitchen – Jan 21

Two Pheasant recipes for you this month to use up end of season birds.

Christmas GarlandBEER BRAISED PHEASANT serves 4

2 oven ready pheasants cut in half & backboned, carcass trimmed. 1 tbsp oil, 1 tbsp butter, 2 onions sliced, 1 sprig of thyme, 3 tbsp brandy, 2 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp clear honey, 300 ml beer, 150 ml double cream, squeeze of lemon juice.

Method:
Season the birds. Heat oil & butter in a roasting tray. Place the birds’ flesh side down & fry over a moderate heat for 10 mins until golden brown turn & cook for 3 mins. Remove birds from tray, place onions & thyme in tray & fry for 2 mins, add brandy & allow to reduce until nearly dry. Add sugar, honey & beer and return birds to tray flesh side up. Bring  up to simmer place in oven & roast  for 15 -20 mins at 220c/gas mark 7.
Remove birds & leave to rest. Return tray to hob & allow the liquid to reduce by half. Remove thyme then add cream & simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is thickening slightly. Check seasoning and skim any impurities from surface. Finnish with the lemon juice & serve.

 

CASSEROLED PHEASANTS WITH AROMATICS

25g dried mushrooms, 150 ml hot water, little fat for frying, 2 pheasants jointed, 2 lemon grass stalks, 1 fresh red chilli, 5 cm piece fresh ginger,  4 large cloves garlic, 4 strips orange rind, 175 g fresh blueberries, juice 3 oranges & 1 lemon,  1tbsp cornflour, hand full of fresh coriander leaves, sea salt.

Method:
Put the dried mushrooms in a bowl pour over the hot water & leave to soak for 2 hours. Fry the jointed pheasant in a little oil in two batches until browned on both sides. Place joints in large casserole dish. Using a sharp knife cut the lemon grass across very finely. Cut open the chilli lengthways and discard seeds, peel the ginger & garlic.  Chop together with the chilli & scatter over pheasant with the lemon grass. Add the orange rind, blueberries and orange and lemon juice. Strain the water from the mushrooms over the pheasant & press mushrooms between the pheasant joints. Season with salt & cover casserole & cook on the middle shelf  at 170c/gas mark 3 for about 2 hours.
Then pour juices from casserole into a pan. Mix cornflower with a little water & stir into the cooking juices, bring to the boil stirring all the time. Cook for 2 mins, pour over pheasant & scatter with the coriander & serve. 

All recipes are from village resident, Richard Childs.

Christmas Garland

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