Recipe of the Month - Autumn Recipes

Autumn Recipes

Fresh Tomato Pasta Sauce

I am still picking tomatoes and you can ripen them in your fruit bowl next to the bananas

2lbs Tomatoes

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp tomato purée

1 tsp dried oregano or mixed herbs

Finely grated rind 1 lemon

A large pinch of sugar

Salt and black pepper

Put all in a large saucepan stir and simmer for 30 mins

Then add a bunch of chopped basil and simmer uncovered for another 30 mins until thickened

You can add chopped olives, chilli or harissa paste if you prefer something a little more spicy

Use as a pasta sauce or as a base for a bolognaise or lasagne

 

Spiced apple cake 

Look out for apple trees in verges and hedgerows they often grow next to roads where apple cores have been thrown away

3 apples peeled cored and chopped

4oz butter, flora or spreadable butter( I used a butter lighter spread)

3oz castor sugar

3oz light brown soft sugar

2 med eggs

8oz plain flour

2 level tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground ginger

1tsp ground cinnamon

4oz mixed dried fruit or raisins

7” cake tin greased and lined

Heat oven to 160c

Soften butter and sugars in microwave and mix until pale and fluffy

Beat in eggs

Mix in apples and dried fruit

Sprinkle baking powder over and spices

Fold in flour until well mixed

Put in tin and bake for 40mins or until cooked

You can test by putting a skewer into centre of cake and if it comes out clean it’s cooked! Otherwise pop back into the oven for another 5 mins

Leave in tin for 10mins to cool and the take out

Cool completely

Slice and serve