Apple glut - have you got one, and what are you doing with them?

[morningpaper]

It's apple crumble every night here - I'm putting on a winter coat (of fat).

What else can I do with all these desert apples?

slice them thinly stew until soft with abit of sugar then put sponge mix on top (weigh two eggs then same amount of butter,sugar and flour + a bit of lemon zest and baking powder

bake at 180 for 40 mins

give them to gardener for horses

cook as above then freeze loads

pigs also like to eat them and makes their meat sweet.

I give bags of them to school for the children to eat mid morning, they're always grateful for them.

It is quite acceptable to take from peoples trees as you walk past around here, so fortunately the trees at the front are pretty bare, (I always feel a little sad about the apples just falling)

Never mind the apples though, why are there no pears on my tree this year? Not a single one!

we're apple tree first timers, too.

this property has a fruiting tree that forms part of the washing line.

so far, we've only been picking up the ones that are on the ground in the morning - when i peg the washing out.

is that correct? can we pick the other ones?

they're red, but not necessarily red all over.

still sweet when you pick them off the ground, though!

I suppose you could eat the fallen ones, just make sure they are thoroughly washed. The best way to tell if apples are ready is by holding them by their base and gently twisting, if it comes off easily it's ready.

I tend to leave the fallen ones for the animals and birds

thanks, MrsM!

took the kids out to the tree and they played 'helper', and we got a LOAD more apples!

we washed them in the bathtub with the shower nozzle and tonight i'll be chopping some up to freeze and doing more applesauce in the slow cooker - it scents the house so well!

yummy scrummy.

we're getting loads off just the one tree.

there's another next to it, but it doesn't fruit for some reason.

Expat - pull one off the tree and cut in half. If the pips are brown, they are ready. If cream, leave for a bit more, but they should be ready by now.

Apple Jelly recipe;

3lb apples
1 lemon
sugar

And either Rosemary sprigs or chillis.

Wash and chop apples roughly. Put in a preserving pan with some rosemary/chopped chilli. (not too much fresh chilli - it affects the set) Add lemon juice and the lemon halves and 5 cups water. Boil, then simmer 20 mins.
Pour into a jelly bag (or muslin) tied to the legs of an upside down chair, and leave overnight to drain through. Don't squeeze, or the mixture goes cloudy.
Measure the juice into a pan, add the same amount of sugar (ie 1 cup juice to 1 cup sugar). Boil and simmer 35 mins until setting point is reached.
Pour into warm jars with a sprig of rosemary in (blanch first in boiling water) or add some pieces of chilli (or dried chilli flakes).

Eat on ham/cheese and bread, or use as ham glaze, or stir into gravy or over chicken roasting....

Do you have to do anything to them before freezing them, or can you just core, cut and throw them into bags into the freezer?

I took them all into school (having checked with the cook first). They made apple crumble!

Wriggle - you should really peel core and cook them a bit before freezing.

My fil had a wonderful apple repss which he use t make fab apple juice which he froze in glass bottles and defroted 1 a week . No preservatives or anything.

Delia's apple and almond pudding is lovely.
I have just stwed loads and put them in family sized portions in the freezer.

We make apple cake,apple & mint jelly,apple & blackberry jam,plus pies & crumbles.A friend makes apple juice & freezes it it well washed milk containers,she says it stores very well & she defosts it when needed.I'm going to try it,as the dd's love apple juice.

Ours are yet to ripen...... please sun come and do your work.

Half hijack - what to do with a serious glut of pears oh wise Mnetters

Apple glut - have you got one, and what are you doing with them?

Yes, I have one.

Mainly ignoring them as I try and get through the gluts of potato, cabbage, pumpkin, onion, and marrow. If I ignore them for long enough they'll all be on the ground and bruised enough that my neighbour will take them for his cow, and I will get milk in exchange.

Maybe next year I'll have an 'Orgaised With Apples Year' ...

Oh, and did you know (sorry if anyone has already mentioned this) that you can store them over the winter too, as long as they are not damaged and not touching each other. On a shelf in your shed or garage.