Warm apple and almond puddings

I'm finally packing up my baby gear.  And I think this time it's for real. It's a different feeling than this time 2 years ago when I tried to do the same.  At that point I had my 2 kids, the perfect pigeon pair, a boy and a girl, where many people these days would feel content.  But deep down inside I wasn't.  I reluctantly started packing up my baby gear and sold one item but no more.  The maternal urge came a calling and I really wanted just one more. I never really  thought it would happen as we'd been telling everyone we weren't having any more and I didn't even discuss it with my husband as I thought I knew his response.

But I couldn't ignore the calling any more and my biological clock was ticking.  So I took the plunge and asked veggie daddy what he thought of the concept of a third.   He nearly drowned with laughter (we where swimming at the time) but rather quickly and without persuasion said.... yes!

We went through the pros and cons of having a third child, asked for advice, and really gave it plenty of thought (and even some lost sleep).  In the end it was gut instinct, would we regret not having a third, yes.  Looking back was it the best decision to make, absolutely yes!

Our cherub Parker has just turned one and he's a little champ.  He completes our family, gives us balance and brings us unconditional love every day.

So anyone else deciding whether or not to have one more.  While everyone is different, if you're thinking about it, do it.  You won't regret it.

On the flip side I don't have a great deal of time to share posts these days.  Plenty of delicious food being created and enjoyed, a few photos taken, but the creations just don't get written down. 
So here's one I made tonight.  Not too sweet and a nice size for family treat.

Warm apple and almond puddings

Warm apple and almond puddings

50g raw almonds
50g raw sugar
120g butter cubed
2 apples (granny smith or pink lady work well)
2 free range eggs
1 MC of milk
130g SR flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
approx 1/4 cup golden syrup (or maple or rice malt syrup)

• Preheat oven to 180
• Grease pudding tins or use 12 silicon cupcake moulds
• Peel apple and thinly slice 1 half, roughly chopping remainder
• Place 1 tsp to 1 tbls of syrup into each mold followed by a slice of apple
• Place almonds in Thermomix bowl and grind for 5 seconds on speed 8
• Add butter and sugar and cream for 10 seconds on speed 6 
• Add the 1 and half roughly chopped apples and chop for 5 seconds on speed 6
• Scrap down if needed, add eggs, milk, flour and cinnamon and mix for 10 seconds on speed 5
• Spoon mixture into moulds and bake for around 20 minutes or until golden
• Invert to onto plates and serve warm with thick yoghurt or cream
• Enjoy!

Warm apple and almond puddings straight from the oven

Rhubarb and Apple Muesli Crumble Cake

What’s there not to love about rhubarb!

Rhubarb and Apple Muesli Crumble Cake

It’s easy to grow year after year from the same crown, it’s looks gorgeous, tastes divine and is very easy to cook.  The rhubarb in my garden has had a growth spurt after some warm weather followed by plenty of rain so I have a few rhubarb recipes on the go today.

An abundance of perfect rhubarb in the vegie patch just screaming out to be eaten!

One is a Roasted Rhubarb and Strawberry  Icecream that I’m planning for the weekend with a heat wave on the way but for desert tonight I thought I’d treat the family to a Rhubarb and Apple Muesli  Crumble Cake.  Couldn’t decide between Rhubarb Crumble and cake so I simply merged the 2 and aren’t we a happy family!

 

It was also one of those Thermomix days where it’s just too tempting to “whip” up something in your magic machine when the kids are behaving themselves.  And the kids pretty much have fruit and yoghurt for dessert most nights so I thought a treat would be like the saying “a change is as good as a holiday”.

 

Rhubarb and Apple Muesli Crumble Cake

50g butter cubed

2 tbls rapadura or raw sugar

1 cup of muesli

1 cup of cooked apple and rhubarb

1 stalk of rhubard extra cut into 1cm pieces

120g butter cubed

140g raw sugar

180g yoghurt

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

220g SR flour

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp ground ginger

 

• Preheat oven to 180°
• Grease and line a 22cm springform tin
• Place 50g butter, 2 tbls sugar and muesli in Thermomix bowl and mix at 90° on speed 2  for 2 minutes or until butter has melted.  Set aside
• Place remaining butter and sugar in bowl and mix for 20 seconds on speed 6 then scrape down
• Add eggs,  and vanilla and mix for a further 20 seconds on speed 6
• Add dry ingredients and combine for 5 seconds on speed 4
• Pour into cake tin, spread with apple and rhubarb and gently stir through batter
• Sprinkle with raw rhubarb pieces followed by muesli crumble mix
• Bake at 180° for 55 minutes or until skewer comes out clean
• Best enjoyed warm with a dollop of thick yoghurt or cream!
 

Stewed Apple and Rhubarb

Catching up with special friends makes you feel all warm and cosy, just like eating this yummy Stewed Apple and Rhubarb.  In this case it was a very dear cousin of mine, a newbie to the Thermomix world, who I visited today.  She treated me to a delicious piece of lemon cake from the Thermomix EDC book and I can honestly say it was perfect.....She’s an amazing mum to her adorable kids, not to mention a business owner and house renovator.  But most of all she’s a great friend who always puts a smile on my face.



The last of the rhubarb...

Today she was steaming some pears for her baby girl in the Varoma of her newly purchased Thermomix which prompted me to share my way of cooking fruit.  This is so quick and easy I either whip this up for the kids for breakfast to top their cereal or for a healthy desert with yoghurt, or sometimes topped with a little custard.


 

While apples are still in full season my rhubarb in the vege patch is just finishing off and it’s time to trim it back and divide a few crowns.  I’d love to add another veggie plot soon and perhaps move the rhubarb there so watch this space.  For now it’s time to pick these last few stems and enjoy.

 
 
Stewed Apple and Rhubarb

Approx 300g peeled and cubed granny smith or other tart apples (3-4 apples depending on size
100g rhubarb stems cut into 2 cm pieces
50g water
A few squeezes of lemon juice
¼ tsp cinnamon

• Place apples in Thermomix bowl with water, lemon juice and cinnamon
• Cook for 6 minutes on Reverse speed 1
• Add rhubarb and cook an extra 2 minutes on Reverse speed 1

Note: Cooking time will vary on the type of apples and how firm or soft you like the end result.  I simply cook for an extra minute at a time if needed.