It's Picnic Time Melbourne!
WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH
IMAGES: LISA ATKINSON
Could I be any more excited about a slight reduction in Melbourne’s lengthy lockdown?
…No I could not! The season has changed, the sun is shining, my garden is certainly showing off, and it’s time to get out of the house and into nature. A picnic is a perfect way to enjoy yourself in the sunshine, a simple way to spend time with your family and a lovely way to ease us back into socialising in our beautiful parklands. I love a theme, and this Spring, I am leaning on the humble apple. Accessible to all, so versatile to cook with and available in such a gorgeous collection of shades. Apples are plentiful and cheap at this time of year (and really, nearly all year round) so bring an assortment to your picnic for the perfect afternoon snack. Guilt-free and sweet, there are many easy ways to enjoy these crunchy morsels.
My father ate an apple every night after dinner, so it became a tradition for me to do the same as a child. Even now as an adult, if I had to choose one fruit to eat for the rest of my life, I would choose the humble apple. It’s not a showy fruit; it’s delicious, it’s good for you and great for cooking with - it is just so damn versatile. Be it in salads or desserts I can go on forever about fabulous recipes that include this fruit. OK, I'll admit it, I love the styling benefits of apples as well. They look great as the centrepiece of a table, hanging bountifully from branches, and there are so many crafty things you can make from them - so all in all, they are pretty handy!
HOW TO PREVENT YOUR APPLES FROM BROWNING
Slice the fruit in water
Brush or dip sliced apples in lemon juice
Soak cut fruit in ginger ale
Soak the slices in saltwater
Sprinkle with ascorbic acid powder
Wrap a rubber band around a cut apple to hold it in its original form
And then there’s always, well, don’t do anything
SIMPLE APPLE IDEAS FOR YOUR PICNIC
Use apple slices instead of crackers for eating with cheese
Cut up apples and skewer them, ready to dip into some caramel sauce
Apple slices with peanut butter spread are delicious; you have to try them. Try sprinkling these with some shredded coconut or slithered almonds to add some extra crunch.
Dried Apples: Core 1 small apple; slice into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Arrange on an oiled baking sheet and bake at 100°C until dry but still soft.
Baked apples are so easy and fun, a great idea for dessert if you are entertaining. Core your apple, fill it with a combination of dried fruits and nuts (sultanas, cranberries, almonds, etc.) drizzle some honey over it and wrap in foil. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice-cream or cream, or tart sour cream to take the edge off the sweetness.
Make some apple fruit leather. Simply puree your fruit with some sugar and cinnamon to taste. Spread onto some baking paper and bake for 2-3 hours until it is sticky but doesn’t stick to your fingers (you’ll need to check this now and then). Cut into strips, roll up and store in an airtight container.
Boil down some chopped apples in some sugar on the stove. Once cooled, fill a few jars halfway and top with a blend of rolled oats, crushed biscuits and coconut – apple crumble on the go!
A simple Apple cake always goes down a treat. All you need to do is whisk 1 1/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon each salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Shred 1 apple and squeeze dry, then whisk with 2 eggs, 1/2 cup each vegetable oil and milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Fold into the flour mixture. Bake in a buttered 9-inch-round pan at 180°C then let cool for 20 minutes. Beat 220 grams cream cheese, 1/2 stick butter, 1 cup icing sugar, 1 teaspoon each lemon juice and vanilla, and a pinch of salt; spread all over the cake and enjoy.
Lastly, what goes down a treat at picnics? Some apple cider of course! A warm mulled cider is quite simple to make and sounds very fancy so if you are picnicking with friends you will definitely look like the one who went to a lot of effort! All you need to do is bring 6 cups apple cider to a simmer with 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tsp of allspice, 1-star anise pod and 3 strips lemon zest. To serve, add diced apples.
