Bratapfel - Wintery Baked Apple

It didn't seem as though we would be getting much of a winter here in Dallas, TX but it seems to be here! After a little bit of snow on Christmas Day and quite a few cold days in between we have had our second dusting of snow last night. Time to share my "I'd rather stay in and have something delicious" recipe - Bratapfel!

It is one of those recipes that most of us could just make out of apples and whatever they might have lurking in their pantry. Any nut, any dried fruit will do and the Vanillesosse - or Vanilla pudding could easily be substituted with custard or double cream or whipped cream. I used Dr. Oetker Vanilla Pudding as a side as well as some leftover homemade Cranberry Sauce. 

Recipe serves 4 as a large dessert or afternoon tea/coffee break snack

Ingredients

• 4 Large Apples - I like Braeburn for this but any apple you like will really do - washed and cored
• 1/2 cup of slivered almonds
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla sugar
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1 Tbsp Orangeat (recipe for a homemade version coming soon!)
• Some ground Cinnamon, Cardamom or any other wintery spice that goes well with apple
• Optional - a bit of soft marzipan

Method

Preheat oven to 350F

Prep Time: 10mins

Cooking time varies

• Put the apples on a lined baking sheet or baking form
• Mix all the other ingredients together
• Fill the apples with the filling
• Put in preheated oven and bake until the skin just starts to come of and the apple is nice and soft - depending on apple size and oven this might take 20 - 35 minutes. 

If you happen to have some Marzipan put it into the apple first before the filling - this will help keep the filling in the apple without the sugary juices escaping. 

Pork with Apples

Another recipe using up some of the leftover meat from the festivities. On Christmas Eve we had some friends over for a stock fondue and one of the items that could be cooked in the fondue was pork. I had about 10 pieces left so it really needed some sprucing up.

It only took a few minutes to get the dish done so I started boiling the water for the Rice so that everything is done at the same time.

Ingredients:

• 1 Strip of smoked Bacon - the leaner the better, cut into small pieces
• 1 Shallot, finely diced
• Pork strips (it was about 100g)
• 1 Apple, cut into slices
• 1/2 cup White Wine/Apple Juice
• 1/4 cup Cream

Method:

• In a small frying pan fry the bacon in its own fat
• Add the Shallot and keep it on the heat until the Shallot has softened
• Add the pork strips and brown them from all sides until they are fully cooked
• Use the White Wine/Apple Juice to deglaze the pan
• Add the Cream and let it come to a boil
• Add the Apples slices on top and let them soften slightly

I served this with some Rice and Green Beans.