Anything Apple

I’m not partial to a crunchy, sweet, and juicy apple. I much prefer a red-skinned one that is crunchy but I sometimes will have a green Granny Smith apple. In Jamaica, I was more used to the apple called the Otaheite apple. Do you know it? It is red on the outside but the flesh is white and it is very sweet and refreshing even when it is just picked from the tree. I’ve never seen it here in the UK and I do miss it. I’ve never seen anyone cook with it before but I am sure it can be used to make a nice pastry or maybe even a crumble.

My favourite ways to use apples in cooking include grating a crunchy apple and adding it to a vegetable salad for an extra bit of crunch and also sweetness. My son also likes apple crumble so since I’ve come to live in the UK I’ve made it quite a few times. I must say that I enjoy the crumble topping more than the base filling, especially if I add additional ingredients like desiccated coconut, some cinnamon, and a little oatmeal.

I find that a bowl of apples also makes for a beautiful and interesting-looking centrepiece for the table. Have you ever tried it?

You have to admit that this looks perfect for Autumn/Fall. You could also use green apples in a large round vase of water (similar to one of those used for a pet fish). Can you imagine it? I think real apples are appealing as a part of Autumn kitchen/dining room decor.

Apple picking is a nice Autumn activity to do too. Recently Leisa and I got the chance to do that when we visited a friend’s allotment. It was so funny! Guess what? Just as I reached up to pick the first apple, I heard the siren of a police car going off in the distance. If I hadn’t gotten permission I would have felt like some prying eyes was on me and they saw me pick the fruits.

One time at school we were looking into different countries and foods that they generally eat. For Holland, I found a recipe that I love to this day. It is for Dutch Apple Cake. It is so simple and uses basic ingredients that we all should have at home. Here is a link to it that I found on the BBC GoodFood website. It is so simple to follow and turns out beautifully every time.

One of my favourite desserts to have whenever I have a McDonald’s meal is their apple pie. I think I have a weakness for it. It can do serious damage to your lips and tongue if it is eaten hot. But at the same time, I get upset if it is lukewarm or cold! I prefer to brave it and cool it myself as I go along, 😆 .

I wish we had even a small apple tree in the back garden. It would take me back to being in Jamaica where it was not unusual to have fruit trees in the garden. An apple tree would just add that extra beauty, be a conversation piece or just provide shade. But then, at some points during the year, we would have the extra work of having the leaves to sweep up too!

Do you like apples? What’s your favourite? Do you know any other ‘uncommon’ apples? Tell us about them in the comment section below.