Apple Crumble Bars

I found another way to use my favourite flavors! This time apples and dried fruits combine to make an apple crumble bar, very similar in flavor to the apple pear cranberry crisp I had made last year. I found the recipe in Cake Days (the one I made the salted caramel cupcakes from). This book is magical – even the colour of the cover (pink and white) transports me to the land of gorgeous cakes and cupcakes of different shapes and sizes with lip smacking buttercream and chocolate frosting. The recipes are absolutely fool proof, provided one reads their basic instructions at the back as well.  I had read somewhere that there are no bad cooks, only bad recipes and this book caters to that belief. The recipes are easy, not at all intimidating and you couldn’t fail if you tried!

 This apple crumble bar has been made keeping halloween in mind. The top and bottom layers are the bar which is absolutely crumbly and full of buttery goodness and there is a soft layer of cooked apples and plump moist dried cherries, cranberries and raisins in between.  The smell of cooked apples, cinnamon and nutmeg warmed up the house and brought the feel of autumn along.

The bar is made by combining all the ingredients for the crumble in one bowl and tossing together the fruits and spices in another bowl and then simply assembling the two.

Apple Crumble Bar

From Cake Days (USA / UK / India)

Makes 12 bars

Ingredients:

200 gms flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

200 gms unsalted butter, softened (I used salted and skipped the salt)

250 gms light brown sugar

120 gms rolled oats

300 gms apples

4 tbsp cornflour

3 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

175 gms mixed dried fruits like cherries, cranberries, raisins

Method:

1.       preheat the oven to 170 C (325 F) and line the tray with baking parchment.

2.       Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl, add the butter and rub together until the consistency of breadcrumbs, then stir in the sugar and the rolled oats. After mixing, press half the mixture into the prepared tray, and set aside.

3.       Peel and core the apples, then cut into slices and mix together with cornflour and ground spices. Place the spice-coated apple slices in lines on top of the oat mixture in the base of the tray, the sprinkle over the dried fruits. Spoon the remaining mix over the apples and dried fruits and press down gently.

4.       Place in the oven and bake for 30 – 40 mins or until the mixture is golden brown. Allow to cool completely in the baking tray before cutting into slices to serve.  

Sweet Corn and Edamame Bean Salad

Here is one of my favourite salads this year.

Edamame beans taste great and the texture is so velvety. Here is a video by Mark Bittman that teaches you how to cook edamame beans and another article.   I haven’t listed any quantity for the salad – use as much or as little of any ingredient and toss together to serve. 

Sweet Corn and Edamame Beans Salad

Edamame beans, steamed

Sweet corn kernels

Tomatoes, chopped

Onions, chopped

For the dressing

Olive oil

Soya sauce

Grated ginger

Chopped garlic

Chilli pepper flakes

Sugar

Salt

Coriander leaves to garnish

Toss well together and serve.