Fool proof food

Recipe for Apple Brown Betty.

Sat, 16 Sep, 2006 - 01:00

Darina Allen is co-founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School and more recently the Ballymaloe Organic Farm School in Shanagarry, East Cork.

Try this delicious old-fashioned apple pudding.

Serves 6

1½lb/675g Bramley apples

¼ cup soft brown sugar

¼ cup caster sugar

¼ tsp grated nutmeg

¼ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp mixed spice

2 cups stale white breadcrumbs

4 oz/110g butter

One two-pint pie or lasagne dish

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Peel the apples and cut into slices. Sprinkle with sugar and spices. Melt the butter and mix with the breadcrumbs in a bowl. Sprinkle half the crumbs into a buttered baking dish, top with the apple mixture and then the remainder of the crumbs.

Cover the dish and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook for about 15 minutes more or until golden and crisp on top.

Serve warm with softly whipped cream.