Cooking Apples, Texture, Pastry ...

[NotQuiteCockney]

A friend has given me a big bag of cooking apples from her garden. What can I do with them?

Problems: I'm not a big fan of the texture of pieces of cooked apple (as in apple pie, the whole slimy thing) and I'm not very happy working with pastry.

I can make applesauce, I guess, but is there anything more interesting? I love those "apple pie" cookies ...

what about apple crumble or apple sponge (eve's pudding) - or is that too slimey as well?

Oh, apple crumble might be ok. I hadn't even thought of that! Doh!

I can probably work around the slimy thing, if at least I don't have to work with pastry.

Don't think I know apple sponge, what's that like?

apple cake, spiced apple muffins ...

My boys actually just love apple puree warm or cold, on its own, with yoghurt, with custard, with icecream, with blackberries, ... So I rarely get more adventurous than that.

do you know what kind of apples they are? some varieties cook down to a tasty mush, like good ole bramley apples, - great for apple sauce, apple crumble, mixing into flapjacks without the lumps etc etc and others keep their shape more so are better for french apple tart..
I would cook one for a while in some water and see what happens to it and how sweet it is. If it mushes down nicely and is nice and tart, use it for an apple crumble or two - freezes great. If it keeps it?s shape, use in an open styled apple tart with apricot glaze, cook whole with chocolate in place of removed core, wrapped in foil, stuff centre with pecan nuts, rum soaked raisins, cinnamon and brown sugar...
mmmmm
I love cooking apples

great in a curry, added to plain muffin mixes, just mushed down with a little cinnamon and sugar served with custard..

eve's pudding

my charges LOVE eves pudding (which is very quick and easy to make)

(myself and 'mummy and daddy' love it too )

I think they're Bramleys. Big and green, and look like the cooking apples you see in the supermarket.

Lots of ideas, thanks loads! I think I'll probably just do a crumble, as I can face that.

Oooh, Eve's pudding does look good, too.