Well it actually says 'Pick fruit, make crumble with it' on our Autumn Bucket List, but what we have actually done is so much better!
My lovely next door neighbours (we'll call them "The C's") let us raid their apple tree and we came away with three carrier bags stuffed full of big gorgeous cooking apples, and we immediately got stuck in with washing & baking. As well as a fun Autumn activity, picking fruit from the tree is much more exciting than just grabbing a bag in the supermarket and helps kids to take an interest where their food comes from.

Mrs C also picked up E so she could reach the ones low enough for her to grab & twist and E ran around grabbing up all of the apples that H dropped for us. They didn't want to stop! Mrs C & I had to coax H out of the tree because he wanted to carry on. The promise of more apple picking next week got him to come down!

I set about looking up recipes of things that were quick & easy to make and that the kids could help out with - and enjoy eating after. I found applesauce, apple jam and a stunning cinnamon apple cake that I simply had to try!
H made a start on peeling the apples first of all, & E helped cut them up (with a butter knife, of course, I didn't fancy a trip to A&E) and then assisted me in transferring them into the pan for the applesauce, while H measured out the butter, sugar & water.
We made a jar & two little pots of applesauce (ready for packed lunches on Monday) and I had a go at the cinnamon apple cake, which we're having for our dessert after our homemade pizzas this evening. I'm not going to lie, I sneaked a small square of it - purely to test it and make sure it was safe for others to eat, you understand. It was delicious. I can definitely see more of that in our future, can't let those apples & our hard work picking them go to waste now can we!
I have linked this post with #CountryKids at Coombe Mill
& #MagicMoments at The Oliver's Madhouse
Yummy. Looks and sounds amazing! It certainly looks like the kids had fun ;D
ReplyDeleteYou take lovely photos, Julie. xx
How rewarding to pick and cook, what great neighbours you have. It truly was a team effort, the cinnamon and apple cake looks delicious. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
ReplyDeleteBeing up an apple tree with a pole brings back my own childhood memories back home with my dad. Lovely post Julie, the cake looks lush :)
ReplyDeletehow fantastic that looks delicious!
ReplyDeletethank you for linking up with #MagicMoments xx