Out & About October 2017

OA food & drink

Did you know? The National Fruit Collection is one of the largest fruit collections in the world and includes more than 3,500 named apple, pear, plum, cherry, bush fruit, vine and cobnut cultivars. Located at Brogdale Farm, near Faversham in Kent,The University of Reading has taken over responsibility for the curation and maintenance of it. Public access is organised by Brogdale Collections, who are developing the site as a visitor attraction. www.nationalfruitcollection.org.uk

Recipe

Roasted apple, Laverstoke Park Farm black pudding, Oaktrack farm crab apple jelly, mustard Here is a lovely recipe, using Bramley apples, from The Crown Inn at Upton, near Andover, (www.thecrowninnupton.co.uk) where chef Lewis Spreadbury and general manager Amanda J’Bair dish up some delightful food. They have recently opened a farm shop where you can pick up apples among a range of local produce. This recipe uses Laverstoke Park Farm black pudding (www.laverstokepark.co.uk), which you can buy at the shop and also Ocado and Waitrose. You can buy the crab apple jelly at the Crown Inn shop too. Serves 4:  2 Bramley apples  Muscovado sugar  50g of butter  50ml cider vinegar  4 slices of Laverstoke Park Farm black pudding (or a black pudding of your choice)  Oaktrack farm crab apple jelly  Good quality English mustard  Watercress to garnish Set your oven to 180°C or alternatively set your grill at a medium setting. Place the slices of black pudding on an oven tray ready for when needed. Take your apples and cut into 1cm thick slices. When you have your apple slices take a round cutter 3-4cm in diameter and cut out the core leaving you with an apple ring, you should achieve four apple rings from two apples. Place your tray of black pudding into the preheated oven or under the pre-heated grill and allow to cook for 7-8 mins. Place a non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat and add the 50g of butter When the butter starts to foam add the sugar, followed by the four apple rings. The butter and sugar will start to form a light caramel around the apple rings. Allow the apple rings to roast in the caramel for 2-3 minutes. Once the apple rings have achieved a nice golden colour remove from the pan and allow to cool slightly. While the apples are cooling, remove your black pudding from the oven and place on a plate, now add your apples, followed by a dollop of tangy crab apple jelly and English mustard. Scatter a few watercress leaves over and tuck in. This recipe goes perfectly with a glass of Chalkdown sparkling cider.

Supermarket apples Here’s the most common supermarket apples and what to use them for.

Visit a special apple event in the area: Cliveden House, October 7 and another date to be announced, 11am-3pm. The event is free, but normal admission charges for Cliveden apply. Taste Cliveden’s apples, explore the trail, sample local cider and take part in a range of apple-themed activities. And check the National Trust website for apple activities at Basildon Park and The Vyne. www.nationaltrust.org.uk Woolley Firs, Maidenhead, has an open day on Saturday, October 14, 10am-3pm. You can taste different apple cultivars, buy some of your favourites and take a guided walk or self-guided walk around Woolley Firs to see the domestic and wild harvest. The Woolley Firs estate has a newly-planted orchard of apples and pears. There is a wild harvest too, with extensive hedgerows containing fruit, berry and nut bearing plants and seeds in the arboretum. The education centre is open all day for the exhibition and fruit tastings. Tea and coffee and some home-made fruity treats are at the centre. Guided fruit identification walks at 11am and 2pm. The Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham , Sunday, October 15, 10.30am-4pm. Celebrate everything that’s wonderful about autumn at a free day for the family. Entertainment, crafts, fun and food will keep all ages entertained. A whole range of wildlife experts will be on hand to answer questions about bats, barn owls and bumblebees. Plus learn about the different varieties of apples grown in the UK with expert Andy Howard. Hog’s Hole Apple Weekend, The Red House, Bexley Heath , Saturday, September 30, 11am-4.30pm. The iconic home of William Morris has stalls of local produce, heritage apples to try and buy, an apple press, hot mulled cider and a host of children’s activities and trails all set in the beautiful grounds of arts and crafts gem Red House.

Red Delicious

Red Delicious – eating apple. Great in salads with savoury ingredients. Pink Lady – eating and cooking. Good for purées and gives a lovely colour when cooked.

Gala

Gala – eating. Too grainy when cooked.

Braeburn

Braeburn – eating and cooking. They hold their shape well and go beautifully with pork. Granny Smith – eating and cooking. Good substitute for Bramleys. Golden Delicious – eating. Cox’s Orange Pippin – eating. Not a great cooker but perfect for pressing into juice. Bramley – cooking. The nation’s favourite for apple pies.

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