Sunday 6 September 2009

Blackberry & Apple Turnovers

Here in the UK, it’s that time of year where we experience the shift between the sunny days of summer and the rapidly cooling days of autumn. For me, the difference is most noticeable with the gathering of new stationery and uniform: and the inevitable return to school. But food wise, the change is also quietly happening. Instead of feasting on fresh strawberries, I enjoy blackberries. Instead of juicy nectarines and peaches, there are big, crunchy apples. Instead of cooling ice-creams and frozen mousse, I turn on the oven, bake and use pastry...

summerfun 116Blackberry and apple turnovers. Just delicious. They don’t claim to be fancy, they don’t take up your time and patience to make or sit proudly in Michelin-starred restaurants. They’re just there, quietly, humbly, for when you get in from a walk, or as a reward when you’ve finished homework. Going back to school is never going to be a hugely joyful occasion, but the addition of a juicy turnover will be guaranteed to make it that little bit better.

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Other than the simplicity of them, another reason I enjoyed these turnovers so much was because of the ingredients. I made these whilst in our cottage in Suffolk, where the abundance of fresh fruit was great. We have a huge apple tree in the garden there, so the apples were all our own. And the lanes all around us were edged thickly with the thick wild brambles full of big blackberries. Baking is all the more fun when the ingredients are your own and free!

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There is no recipe needed, really, as you just need puff pastry and glorious fresh fruit. Once the pasty is rolled, use an extra large cookie cutter (I just cut round a small bowl) to get large circles of the pastry. Pile your fruit of choice on one half of the pastry, and carefully fold the other half over the top, trying to avoid sharp chopped-apple corners! Crimp the edges together really well – otherwise they’ll all split open, as some of mine did, and you’ll lose all the lovely juices. Then just bake for about 10-15minutes until the pastry is golden brown and puffed. Its best to eat on the day they are made or the pastry goes a bit soggy – but I doubt this will be much of a hardship!
Till next time, :) XX

16 comments:

Rhiannon Bosse said...

Oh this sounds divine Lucy! And you did such a nice job! How di dyou get your pastry so gorgeous looking? I just woke up here and this would be marvelous for breakfast :) Keep up the good work! And I too love Autumn, it just started here and back to school for me as well in 1 more day!! eeek!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

That's a delightful combination! What a beautiful and tempting turnover!

Cheers,

Rosa

Megan Lee said...

mmm, those sound delicious!

Linda said...

Hello, Lucy-doll!
Thanks for the comment on m pie crust...yes, I LOVE to crimp!

I am enjoying reading your blog - I think it's so wonderful when young women (and men!) learn to bake and love it. It's such an art and I think something we shouldn't lose.

My friend and I use it for every emotion - "I think I need some Bake Therapy!"

Good luck...I look forward to seeing more of your creations!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Same weather here :)


MAGNIFICENT turnovers!!

Hilary said...

These look so lovely! I love Suffolk - what a nice place to spend the summer.

Ash said...

Wow, freshness right from your own backyard! Or at least cottage backyard! These do look quite tasty and Im sure they would make the house smell so nice and I too would love one of these for breakfast!

jillian said...

These sound great and I am so jealous of that apple tree!

Anonymous said...

I do love a good turnover. Yours sounds delicious. Thanks for visiting my blog!

George@CulinaryTravels said...

Those turnovers look delightful Lucy, one of my favourite desserts.

I love the apple pic too. Great shot.

apparentlyjessy said...

Lucy, I have to say, this post was written beautifully! You have a gift my dear, a wonderful talent for writing!
And cooking of course, those turn overs look delicious!

I have to say I am super jealous, not only that your family has a cottage, but a cottage with lots of fruit trees in the back! Nice! All we have is a nectarine tree, sadly fruit trees don't seem to do so well where I live :(

Dewi said...

Lucyyyyyy, this is very delicious and clever combo. Yum!

Palidor said...

Yum! Hot turnovers fresh out of the oven are delicious!

Kathy said...

Hello Lucy. Just checkin in on your lovely pictures. That was cool about your teacher with the loave and contest. My grandkids started a new school this year 4th and 5th grade. So far they have made friends and are doing fine. Well I have to try this pastry. My husband works in produce at our grocery store. He can get some nice apples. Not right off the tree though. Keep it up girl. Thanks Kathy.

Cecille Ericta said...

Doing a great job, my dear! Keep baking!

Lynne Daley said...

A lovely post. Blackberries are my favorite fruit. We lived in the Norfolk area years ago and would ride our bikes down the little roads and collect buckets of blackberries. Your cottage in Suffolk in very cool.