Thread: Apple Crumble and Custard

winter warming pud

Apple Crumble
Crumble
6oz plain flour,
3oz butter (cold)
4oz sugar

filling
3/4 lb cooking apples
1/4 lb sweet eating apples
2 oz brown sugar
pinch ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon flour

preheat oven to 180C.
for the crumble add flour and sugar to mixing bowl. cube the cold butter and slowly add to mixture whilst rubbing in gently. the idea is to form a breadcrumb type mixture.

peel, core and slice apples into chunks and arrange in the bottom of a heatproof dish, add the sugar, flour and cinnamon and gently stir. evenly sprinkle over the Crumble and bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes until crumble is browned and fruit is bubbling.

I like to sprinkle chopped almonds or oats over the crumble before baking for extra crunch, and my mum likes to put the fruit mix in a saucepan with 3 tablespoons of water and heat gently for 5 minutes or so she likes a soft apple mix. Oh and in summer i add blackberries too :p.

Custard

10 fl oz double cream
3 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cornflour
1 oz sugar

Beat eggyolks, sugar and cornflour in a mixing bowl first using large whisk.
Heat cream and vanilla extract in a saucepan gently to just before simmering (important not to boil cream).
Now for the tricky bit... whilst whisking the egg mix with one hand gradually pour in the hot cream (i usually get chris to pour it in, cos its important not to stop whisking) when its all in pour back into the pan and i use a spoon to scrape it all in to the pan. carry on gently heating the custard whilst continually whisking, until thick and smooth (just before simmering point). if over heated it can look a bit grainy if that happens remove from heat and whisk ontil smooth again. if you stop whisking it can go lumpy too (happens to me most of the time i just sieve it to remove the lumps)

Serve a good portion of hot apple crumble in biggest favourite bowl and pour over the yummy hot custard, sit on comfy couch, snuggled in a blanket and enjoy in comfort...best eaten slowly with eyes closed yummy.