My Mum’s Apple cake
The best apple cake in the world!
Following a miserable few days of computer hassles I am glad to report that I am almost back up and running. Several Microsoft migraines later and your host can see a light in the black so what better way to celebrate my return to the fold than with a picture of my mother’s awesome apple cake!
My brother and I feasted like the kings of our domains that we are on Sunday. Feeling like Henry V111 in the same tight trousers I crawled back to my car after a fabulous three course lunch cooked by my mother and sponsored by my father. Feeling fortified by home cooking I was ready once more to take Hewlett Packard on again.
By 11.30pm I’d thrown the towel in, how I managed to stay off the wine God only knows but life’s too short to cry over computers so I’ve bought a new one and had to reinstall everything today. I don’t care if I never have to visit another pc troubleshooting website again, take my advice and steer clear. If you can afford it buy new and leave the geeks to it.
I could whine about compatability issues with Microsoft anti-virus not running on Windows 7 but I won’t (just did!!) instead I shall switch this off before my eyes explode and read my new book with a mug of valerian tea. Who needs alcohol when you can drink valerian tea? If you ever fancy writing the next Sgt Peppers album but without taking the LSD then give valerian tea a go!
Anyway, here’s my mum’s crowning finale to her lunch……
Frau Collins Appfle Kuchen
Looks wonderful, Miles!
We Yanks feasted like kings and queens this past Thursday as well, you know!
At my mother-in-law’s house all of her sons and their families gathered and a great time was had by all. Amongst other things, I brought your Potatoes Boulangere which turned out magnificently! If you have any hint’s on how to mitigate the liquid in a multilayer ratatouille - let me know. It turned out fine, but it was swimming at one point and I had to siphon off so much liquid, that I’m sure there must be a better way - eh, Chef?
Also made a tart cranberry sauce that went well with the meat that had, orange, black pepper and pomegranate molasses in it - yum!
November 30, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
Laura,
Tasted even better (should cement my position as favourite son!) Glad the boulangere worked out, I’m doing Welsh onion cake now which is exactly the same!
As for the ratatouille much depends on your version really, I tend to stick to a fairly dry combination moistened with olive oil and soft plum tomatoes. If you want something with more sauce then I’d layer the sliced vegetables in a terrine or dish, spoon a couple of streaks of passatta over each layer but no more then finish it in the oven and press it. I’ve done something similar with a terrine of roasted provencale vegetables, I used some agar agar to set a saffron infused vegetable stock and served it with scallops.
Like the sound of the cranberry sauce, nice to see you got the pomegranate in there!!
Miles
November 30, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
Miles,
That fabulous looking apple cake deserves a post of its own …. perhaps we might persuade Anne to do the honours?
I think it’s wonderful that you and your brother lunch together with your parents on Sundays. It must be a joy for all of you…. even father, who no doubt sportingly gives up his right to extra helpings in order to feed his two giant sons (softly cursing as mother bags up the left-overs for your brother’s benefit
)
Cid
November 30, 2009 @ 11:18 pm
Cid,
It’s hardly the stuff of ‘A Christmas Carol’….my brother and I despite our advancing years still fight like cat and dog over the roast potatoes. I’m not sure if ‘joy’ is the sensation my father feels at our presence. Nausea might be more apt
Miles
December 1, 2009 @ 7:29 am
Miles
Feeling like Henry VIII
Not looking dissimiliar to him either
It was a feast fit for a king which is just as well . . .
I’m King of Wybers Wood & Great Coates.
Cracking !
Rod
December 1, 2009 @ 8:24 am
Miles & Rod
I am blushing
Anne
December 1, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
Cid,
.
Many thanks. Would normally like to oblige with recipe but a bit tricky. It has german ingredients that I bring back. You will have to be content with a virtual slice on this occasion. Much more slimming
Regards
Anne
December 1, 2009 @ 2:29 pm