Apple and pear Crumble

This isn't really part of my christmas baking but I thought I would do a quick post about one of my favourite puddings - apple and pear crumble! It makes a lovely warm hearty dessert on a cold winter's afternoon and is great to serve when the family are round especially with dollops of custard or cream!

I used:

2 large cooking apples

1 jar of home grown pears in syrup

125-150g (4-5oz) sugar

200g (7oz) plain Flour

1 tsp baking powder

100g (3.5oz) butter, chopped into small squares

25-50g (1-2oz) porridge oats

Heat the oven to 180c/350f/gas mark 4.

Wash, peel and core the baking apples and slice them thinly with a sharp knife. Lay them in an over proof dish overlapping each other and them place the pears and syrup on top.

Sieve the flour and baking powder together into a bowl and then rub in the butter until it looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and the oats and mix well. Spread this mixture over the top of the fruit and even it out.

Place it into the oven for about 30 minutes until it is a lovely brown colour and a gorgeous smell is filling your kitchen. Serve it into bowls while it is still hot and cover with custard, cream or if you dare ice cream!

You could add a bit of christmas cheer to this dish by adding sultanas or cranberries and sprinking some cinammon over.

Today I am of to make christmas cookies using white chocolate and cranberries. Then I am off out into the cold day to start christmas shopping. Oxford street here I come....

Bread and Butter Pudding

This is my husband's favourite pudding. It reminds me of being a child and eating it swamped in custard however he prefers his with dollops of vanilla ice-cream melting beside the warmth of the pudding. It makes a great dessert on a chilly autumn evening when the nights are drawing in and darkness is falling. The hot pudding covered in lovely hot custard will warm you through and through.

I made it using 1 1/2 pints of milk, granulated sugar, 2 eggs, butter, raisins and 4-5 large slices of bread (depending on the size of the dish you are using!).

Preheat the oven to a medium heat. Gently heat the milk and 3 tablespoons of sugar in a medium pan until just before boiling point. Take of the heat and whisk in the eggs. Take the bread, butter it and then slice into triangles. Layer it along the bottom of the dish and sprinkle over some sugar and raisins, place another layer of bread on top and again sprinkle on some sugar and raisins. You may add another layer depending on the size of the dish. Pour over the heated milk and sugar and then place in the oven for approximately 20 minutes. Serve with custard, vanilla ice-cream or double cream. Delicious!