We have swiftly arrived at one of my favourite times of year. Harvest time. The tractors and combines are out in the fields all around us, rumbling past our house at all times of the day. Gradually they're changing the colour of the landscape as they cut the barley or the wheat and fill tractors with their precious bounty. Then the ploughs come out and turn the stubble back into the earth and the fields become brown once more.
I know some people live for summer but, for me, I live for the rest of the year. Particularly autumn, where fruit comes to fruition, where red and orange leaves give the trees a new outfit for the season, where the weather is more variable and interesting, where crispy mornings give you a wonderful wake up call.
We aren't in autumn yet, but the harvesting reminds you that it is not far away.
The harvesting in our garden has also started. Trees in our orchard are bearing lots of apples, plums and damsons (no pears this year). Only the bramley apples are ready, though. The cooking apples. And the blackberries! They are coming thick and fast. I try and get to them before the wasps but it is a mission sometimes.
With the weather so changeable at the moment it seems fitting to make an apple and blackberry crumble. A pudding made from my own bramleys and brambles.
Play the quick video for instructions and see below for the full recipe and method.
Recipe
- 300g self-raising flour
- 150g butter
- 150g caster sugar
- 100g oats
- 4-5 large apples (bramley if possible)
- 300g blackberries
- 2 tablespoons sugar (to taste)
You will need a large oven proof dish.
Method
- Pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees fan.
- Add the butter to the flour and rub with your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Stir in the sugar and the oats.
- Peel and core the apples and slice.
- Place the apples into the oven proof dish and scatter over the blackberries and sugar.
- Pour the crumble mixture over the top and spread evenly.
- Place in the oven for 45 minutes to one hour.
- The crumble is done when it is golden on top and the fruit is cooked.
- Serve with cream, ice-cream or custard. Or all three. I won't judge.
EQUIPMENT USED IN VIDEO:
Lakeland Apple Master Peeler & Corer
PIN FOR LATER:
