Warm apple coffee cakes

Cooking Time

25 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 granny smith or golden delicious apples, peeled
• 1/3 cup sultanas
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup self-raising flour, sifted
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 2 tablespoons light olive oil spread
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
• 1 tablespoon boiling water
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons reduced-fat milk
• 2 x 150g tubs vanilla creme fruche

 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease four 1-cup capacity ovenproof ramekins. Coarsely grate apples into a large bowl. Add sultanas, brown sugar, flour and walnuts. Stir until well combined.
2. Place spread in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on medium (50%) for 1 minute or until melted. Dissolve coffee in boiling water. Stir into spread. Add eggs and milk. Mix well. Add coffee mixture to apple mixture. Stir until well combined.
3. Spoon mixture into prepared ramekins until almost full. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Serve warm with fruche.

Notes

• To reheat cakes, turn onto a microwave-safe plate and cover with damp paper towel. Microwave on MEDIUM (50%) for 2 minutes or until just warm.
• You can also bake these cakes in a texas muffin pan. Turn out to serve.

Apple and mint sauce

Serve this sauce as an accompaniment to roast pork. 

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

15 minutes

Makes

435 ml (1 3/4 cups)

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 6 large granny smith apples, peeled, cored, coarsely chopped
• 160ml (2/3 cup) sweet white wine
• 2 tbs caster sugar
• 3 tsp finely chopped fresh mint

 

Method

1. Combine the apples, wine and sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until sugar dissolves.
2. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until apple softens. Set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly.
3. Place apple mixture in the bowl of a food processor and process until pureed. Transfer to a serving bowl. Add the mint and stir until well combined. Serve warm or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until required.

Apple, pear and spinach juice

Wake up the body and sharpen the senses with this bracing beverage. 

Equipment

You’ll need a juice extractor.

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 3 large packham pears, quartered
• 3 large granny smith apples, quartered
• 100g baby spinach
• 5 fresh mint sprigs
• Ice cubes and mint sprigs, to serve

 

Method

1. Place a large jug under juice extractor nozzle. Juice pear, apple, spinach and mint. Stir to combine.
2. Divide ice cubes between chilled glasses. Top with pear juice mixture. Serve with mint.

Sweet and Spicy Pork, Onion and Apple Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS

 

1       (3/4-lb.) pork tenderloin, thinly sliced

1       medium onion, thinly sliced

1       Granny Smith apple, peeled, thinly sliced

1       tablespoon finely chopped ginger root

1/8    teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2       tablespoons water

1/3    cup red currant jelly

1       teaspoon soy sauce

4       large (about 6-inch) French rolls, unsliced, or 4 (6-inch) sections French bread

4       leaves leaf lettuce

 

DIRECTIONS 

1 Spray medium nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Add pork slices; cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove pork from skillet; cover to keep warm. 2 In same skillet, combine onion, apple, ginger root, red pepper flakes and water; mix well. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 7 to 9 minutes or until onion and apple are golden brown and tender. 3 Reduce heat to low. Stir in jelly and soy sauce; cook until jelly is melted. Increase heat to medium. Return pork to skillet; cook 2 minutes or until pork is glazed. 4 Meanwhile, cut V-shaped wedge from top of each roll; set wedges aside. 5 To assemble sandwiches, place rolls on individual plates. Place lettuce leaf on each roll. Top each with pork mixture and roll wedges.

Pork is an excellent source of high quality protein, containing all the essential amino acids for building, maintaining and repairing body tissues. Pork is also considered a major dietary source of iron and the B vitamins, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin.

To make Sweet and Spicy Pork and Apple Stir-Fry, omit the lettuce and French rolls. Cut pork into cubes, cook in 1 teaspoon sesame oil and add 1 clove minced garlic to the pan with vegetables. Serve hot pork mixture on a bed of white rice and garnish with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seed.

To add color to this tasty sandwich dinner menu, serve with red and green grapes and milk.