AUTUMN apples transport me back to my childhood. It was a time of collecting apples and mum would store them away to turn into apple sauce, toffee apples, pies and crumbles. Together with the picked blackberries for pies, jam and jelly it was a busy time of year.
Mum was a wonderful cook and the only pudding of mine she said was better than her own was my fruit crumble with apple and blackberries – an accolade indeed!
Crumble was thought have been invented in Britain during rationing in the Second World War as a substitute for the pastry of apple pie.
The innovative use of breadcrumbs and oats could be added to the scarce items of flour, fat and sugar.
It is baking so elementary and over 70 years later I was delighted to hear that a friend’s daughter brought home her own apple and raspberry crumble last week after she had cooked it in her first year of senior school. A star baker in the making.
It also seems this pudding is now the next must have to grace the tables of sophisticated French restaurants!
Custard was always served with this humble British pudding. Now it is down to individual choice but most of our friends and family still prefer custard.
As I rarely make traditional custard with eggs, I use Bird’s Custard Powder. This was first formulated and cooked by Alfred Bird, a chemist in 1837.
BIRD'S: Linda's custard of choice
His wife loved custard but was allergic to the eggs used to thicken it. He moved to Birmingham, the then city of a thousand trades and set up Alfred Bird and Sons Company.
By 1843 his custard powder was already a national treasure and supplied to the Armed Forces during the First World War – and the rest is history.
Apple pie, Eve’s pudding and apple streusel cake
Of course, I couldn’t make only crumble with all those Worcester apples – there’s also Eve’s Pudding, apple pie and apple streusel cake. Loved by family and friends – and I guess my mum (inspirational cook) and dad (lover of all things sweet) would have enjoyed them too!
Linda's mum Elizabeth Matilda (Betty), who died in 2016, and dad Ronald Edward, who died in 1996
• Do you agree with Linda – is custard still the best topping? Maybe you’re cream or ice cream?
Office consensus is pie but divided on what topping. Let’s be honest though, any combination is a winner!
We would love to hear about your food thoughts for autumn. Have you grown a rude looking carrot or have the perfect comfort food recipe?
Send your thoughts to our community content editor, barry.kinghorn@newsquest.co.uk
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