We’re so lucky to have lots of well established fruit trees in the orchard and the walled garden. Every tree is groaning under the weight of its apples or pears or plums or quince.
A large proportion of our apples are used to to make the most awesome apple juice to use in the house and the Pijjery. We need to get enough for the year so it’s pretty hectic. It’s a long messy process as we are not doing this commercially and using only two domestic juicing machines.
It’s really satisfying to make the juice, then use the left overs to feed the compost bins that make the soil that feeds the ground that produces the fruit trees that grow the crops to make more juice…The whole process creates something of a smug feeling.
It really makes you wonder how they did it in the ‘olden days’? When you try to use what’s growing, make everything yourself, avoid waste and recycle it becomes a full time job.
We also make apple compote, pie, tarts tatin, apple jelly and crumbles and just happen to have the most awesome apple cake recipe too so there’s a great deal of baking in the Aga going on.
So, if nothing else, make an apple pie for autumn. Everyone needs a little home comfort now and again and nothing creates that warm and cosy feeling like a home made apple pie.
Added to the September menu for the Pijjery is Apple juice, apple cake and apple pie along with our very autumnal bangers and mash with a rich brown sauce. Gosh, can you see the leaves curling ready to fall and feel the crisp wind tickling your face?
