Date and Apple Chutney Microwave

Makes 1 liter

  

3 medium onions, finely chopped

125 ml water

1 kg green apples, peeled, cored and diced (weigh AFTER you’ve peeled and cored the apples)

500 g dates, chopped

100 g almonds, chopped (or walnuts)

5 ml salt

10 ml allspice (mixed spice)

5 - 10 ml ground ginger

500 ml white wine vinegar

200 g brown sugar

 

Place onions and water in a large microwave dish. Microwave without a lid on HIGH for 3 minutes. Add apples and microwave on HIGH for 8 minutes. 

 

Add dates, almonds / walnuts, salt, ginger and 250 ml of the vinegar and microwave on HIGH for 6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. 

 

Add the sugar and remaining vinegar and cook for a further 8 minutes on HIGH, stirring every 2 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars and allow to cool, then seal. Makes 1 liter. 

Recipe adapted from food24 - Photo:  Alma Pretorius 

 

Apple and Ginger Jam Muffins

 

Makes 6 big muffins 

 

1 cup self-rising flour

1 large egg

1/4 cup white sugar (optional)

1/2 cup Mackays Ginger preserve

1 cup tinned apples, cubed small

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Preheat oven to 200 oC.  (For Sunbeam convection oven, check below for temperatures.)  Mix together the ginger preserve jam, egg, sugar, oil, apple cubes, vanilla and milk.  Stir in the flour.  Spoon into greased 6 muffin pan.  Bake for 20 minutes (or till test skewer comes out clean.)  Let muffins cool in pan for 10 minutes.

APPLE PIE IN A MUG - SINGLE SERVING

Single serving

 

1 green apple, cored, peeled, cut into chunks

Chopped nuts / seeds

1 tbsp toasted bread crumbs / coarsely chopped cookie crumbs

1 tsp powdered sugar (icing sugar)

½ tsp cinnamon/apple spices

½ tsp lemon juice

In a cup, mix the apple chunks with the cinnamon/apple spices and lemon juice. Microwave on High for about 2 minutes. In a small mixing bowl, mix the nuts with the powdered sugar, toasted bread crumbs / cookie crumbs, sprinkle on top of apple mixture and enjoy with ice cream / yoghurt / cream / custard.

Recipe and photo: Alma Pretorius

 

Fresh apple and cheese drop cookies

Makes 20, depending on size

 

7 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large egg

1 cup grated Gouda / Cheddar cheese

2/3 cup grated red apple (with or without skin)

1 cup self raising flour

1/2 cup white sugar

Pinch of salt

 

Preheat oven to 170 oC.  Spray baking sheet.  Mix all together, drop teaspoon-size dough on sheet.  Bake for 12 minutes.  Let cool.

Recipe and photo:  Alma Pretorius

 

Cheese and Apple Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

 

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1 cup self-rising flour

1 cup granny smith apples, cubed

1 teaspoon dried oregano

½ cup + 2 tablespoons milk

¼ cup + 2 tablespoons sunflower oil

Salt and pepper

 

Preheat oven to 190 oC.  Grease 12 muffin pan. (I put squares of foil in each hole and spray it – keep muffin pan ‘clean’.)  Mix the cheese with flour, apple and spices.  Add the milk and oil into the flour mixture and stir with fork.  It will be a stiff mixture.  Spoon into the 12 holes and bake for 20 minutes.  Let cool in pan for about 5 minutes, carefully remove the foil and let it cool down for 5 more minutes on wire rack.  Enjoy.

 

Recipe and photo:  Alma Pretorius