Apple and Rhubarb Crumble

I much prefer crumbles to pies, so thought I'd use some rhubarb and a couple of apples to make a tasty crumble.

So quick and simple, peeled and chopped apples and rhubarb about 1 1/2in pieces.

Popped in a pan with 4 tbs of sugar (or to taste), cinnamon and a few tbs of water and left to simmer. It's rather nice with a splash or two of Port as well!

Crumble mix couldn't be any easier, just flour, butter and brown sugar. You can be a bit healthier and use oats and some chopped nuts give even more crunch.

I lazily popped ours in the food processor and doubled up on the portions.

A few pulses of the processor and there were lovely crumbly crumbs!

Fruit in the base of the dish with plenty of crumble on top.

I doubled up on crumble topping so we could put some in a bag and freeze it. It'll just need defrosting and sprinkling over the next time I make a crumble.

30 minutes later and we were enjoying a lovely hot crumble with some cold, melting ice cream.

Hubby was very happy, and there's plenty left for tomorrow.

Take care
xxx

Spongebob's Baking

Spongebob being my Imogen who changed into her Spongebob pyjamas after school (it poured with rain on the way home, as it has most of the day).

Andy picked some rhubarb at the allotment yesterday, he claimed not to like it since having it as a child. Knowing how he likes his tart and sour things (this is a man who will happily eat through a lemon, pith included), I was sure that it was worth trying again. I had seen a very yummy looking rhubarb and apple cake crumble on Kate's blog Granny taught me to crochet - thank you Kate, it's turned out lovely.

Making the cake mixture, and looking forward to scraping the bowl...

Yum, lots of fresh rhubarb and apple with a sprinkling of sugar.

Next was the crumble topping. Imogen is very good at making a fine crumble...

Concentrating, making sure it's all crumbled up.

Looking very nice and all ready to be popped into the oven.

We know you're baking...  Honey and Bruce watching every movement, waiting for even a miniscule crumb to fall...

All ready with some clotted cream. And yes... Andy has decided rhubarb is quite tasty after all - thanks Kate!

Just need to finish off with this picture of wee Gary feeling very tired and hiding under a cushion trying to catch some zeds

Ooh, the camera's out, please take a picture of me too!

Take care
xxx

We have an Allotment!

Yesterday was an amazing day, it was like waiting for a bus and lots of good things coming along at once.

Imogen has been in a talent contest at school, she went into the semi finals before half term and then the final was at school, hosted by the local radio station last night. She sang Celine Dion's My Heart will go On and came second (runner up), she was so thrilled and it meant so much to her. We were so proud, especially when other people in the audience were saying wow about her voice. Daddy filmed it, but I can't post it as there is a school agreement that we can take photos and video, but must not post it on the internet - I think it's a fair agreement and means we can still take pictures to help preserve our memories.

So Imogen was very happy (as were we), then Adam came from work and told us what a fantastic day he'd had... brilliant :)

And the other very exciting news for us is that we have an allotment!!!!!!!!!!

We put our name down 4 years ago, and it seemed like it would never happen. We went to have a look this afternoon, it's very overgrown... but so exciting. Lots of very hard work to get it cleared by Andy, and we've already bribed Adam to help with the digging over.

Even overgrown as it is, we still fell in love with it instantly

We even picked some of the rhubarb growing there to make something tasty with. We are complete novices and have only dabbled with growing some veggies in the garden so are hoping to get lots of advice as we go along. I can't help much with the physical side of it, but I'm just as excited as Andy...

Take care
xxx