Apple Cake

Weather has been getting quite chilly and windy lately. Brrrrr.... and the apples from our trees are scattered all over the garden. Besides offering to my mister's colleagues, (yes, he has been taking apples to his office regularly) what shall I do with them? Let's try to bake an apple cake! :) 

Ingredients
3-4 large apples - Granny Smith or alike
1-2tbsps lemon juice
195g flour
120g sugar
1.5 tsps baking powder
1tsp cinnamon powder
85g butter-melted and cooled to room temperature
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsps milk
50g raisins

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line a square pan-20cm in size or any other size pan.
2. Cut the apples into bite-sized and toss around with lemon juice to prevent browning.
3. Combine and mix flour, sugar, cinnamon powder, salt with a stand or hand-held mixer.
4. Add in butter, eggs, vanilla extract and milk. 
5. Mix well in the mixer. 
6. Add apples and raisins and mix well to combine.
7. Pour batter into the baking pan and smooth the batter.
8. Bake for 35-45 mins or till golden brown. Check with a skewer. (if it comes out clean, then it is done)
9. Let it cool down for 10 mins.
10. Serve warm with a dollop of ice-cream or whipped cream.
11. Leftovers can be kept in the fridge and do reheat before serving.

Apples+ other ingredients

Batter is ready

Looks good!

Yummy!

Pork Stew with Mashed Potatoes

Apples from the garden

Pork Stew

What can I do with some apples from the garden? A stew, a pie or some jam? Combined with some pork, dried apricots, these apples could find their place in the same pot. They are like Granny Smith's-sourish which my kids find them fanciful in their mouths. My little hurricanes munch on them very much whenever they are at play in the garden. 
Oh! And btw, my little missy refused to eat her dinner today. Hmmmm...


Ingredients
400g pork tenderloin (cubed) and marinated with a few pinches of salt and white/black pepper
100g dried apricots  
50g of raisins or plums
4 medium sized Granny Smith apples-cored and cut into desired shapes (Mine was cubed and wedged)
2 bay leaves
2.5 dl water
2.5 dl cream
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Lea & Perrins Worchestershire sauce
1 tbsp soya sauce
1 tbsp dark soya sauce

Optional

1 medium-sized onion-cut into rings
* Fry onion with butter and season with a pinch of salt and 3 tbsp of sugar. Fry them till soft and brownish.

Method

1. Fry the cubed pork in some butter till browned.
2. Put them into the pot. Add water, dried apricots, raisins/plums, bay leaves, apple cider vinegar, Worchestershire sauce and soya sauce. Boil at medium heat for about 30 mins or till tender. 
3. Add in cream, apples and dark soya sauce. Simmer for another 5 mins at low heat.
4. Switch off heat and let it rest for 5 mins.
5. Serve warm with your choice of main dish. 

You can use any main dish and extra side dishes to complement your meal. I have made with couscous, bulgur, rice, green peas, a green salad and etc. The combination is endless!