 |
Daz Switalla Flavour Secrets No.1 The Strand Chef www.no1thestrand.co.nz |
Like Eve, I have often been tempted by an apple and if Jazz apples were around way back then, I can see why Eve took a bite.
Traditional customs are still practised in countries like Sweden, Denmark and the US where on the first day of school, pupils give apples to the teachers. This stemmed from 16th century customs where parents paid educators with foods like fruits because during that time teachers did not receive enough salary to sustain the cost of living – so what's new?
Jazz apples are the result of a cross between Royal Gala and Braeburn, developed in New Zealand by Plant and Food Research in 1985.
With all the summer fruit arriving, starting with the popular strawberries stealing the show, it's still a great time to enjoy apples.
Interestingly, this variety of apple has become very popular in Australia – the country that only recently has allowed apple imports from New Zealand.
The crunchy juicy Jazz apple makes great eating and adds great flavour to baking. This week's recipe is a very easy apple and walnut cake.
Apple and walnut cake
Ingredients
2 cup wholemeal flour
1.5 cup raw sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp mixed spice
1 cup chopped walnuts
3 cup chopped apples – skins on is fine
1 cup soya or vegetable oil
4 large eggs
Method
Preheat oven to 170 degrees, grease 6-8 inch cake tin well or line with baking paper. In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients then the chopped apple. Mix the oil and eggs together and stir into dry mix till just mixed through.
Bake for about 45 minutes to one hour, test with a skewer, but remember this is a very moist cake so it's often hard to tell when ready.
Another method is to slap the top of the cake with a spatula to hear the sound of the cake; a dull thud means it needs more time and a hollow sound means it's ready. Allow to cool and frost with lemon icing or add a little yoghurt to your icing or just eat it as it comes.
This cake keeps well in the fridge for about a week – if it lasts that long.