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pumpkin and apple overload for the BBC

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i’m back on BBC Radio Lincolnshire and Humberside tomorrow evening (Wednesday at 8pm… if you’re thinking of tuning in) and I want to talk about seasonal produce and some tasty treats to make with it… 


we had Apple Day at Gunby Hall on Sunday, which celebrated all things apple… we had an incredible display of most of our 49 varieties of apple which the head gardener Clive painstaking picked, identified, catalogued, polished and beautified for the event alongside stalls selling apple produce and of course our tea-room, full to bursting with all kinds of yummy apple cakes, apple turn-overs, apple chutney, apple strudels, apple crumble cakes and my favourite, toffee apples… it was a really fun day and a great success… it also means that I have a bumper selection of apples to cook with as well as our first crop of pumpkins, ready for our Halloween event at the end of the month… so here are a few scrummy little recipes to get your taste bud tingling… and a few of the things i’ll be taking with me into the studio for James to try…



Pumpkin Cluster Bread

450g pumpkin, grated coarsely375g strong white bread flour
300g wholemeal flour
2 sachets of easy-blend/fast-action yeast or 14g instant dried yeast
3 tablespoons parmesan, grated
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
Tepid water or milk – about 200ml
Milk, to glaze
– if using instant yeast whisk it into 90 ml of the tepid water until frothy and dissolved. 

– mix the flour, yeast, parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and some black pepper together in a bowl, then stir in the olive oil and pumpkin. Add some more water until the mixture comes together as a firm, soft dough. 

– turn the dough onto a lightly floured board or work surface and knead until smooth and elastic. 

– lightly oil a bowl and put the dough into rise, covered with cling film or a cloth, for about one hour or until doubled in size.

– knock back the dough in the bowl (punch the air out of it) and then turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead again briefly until smooth.

– divide the dough into eight equal pieces and roll to shape into even balls. Lightly grease and line the base of a 23 cm cake tin with baking parchment. Place one ball of dough in the middle and all the others around it, brush the tops of rolls with milk and cover again with oiled cling film or a cloth and leave to prove until doubled in size and the balls touch each other – about 30 minutes.

– bake in a preheated oven at 200C for about 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked. Cool on a wire rack. Tear each roll off to eat as a bun.


Roast Pumpkin and Garlic Soup
and what better to serve with the pumpkin cluster bread than this creamy, velvety Pumpkin Soup… both the soup and bread use one medium-large pumpkin, so there’s no wastage!

500g pumpkin – skinned and chopped into large chunks
5 garlic cloves – skin on
1 medium onion – finely chopped
1 medium leek – finely chopped
1 stick of celery – finely chopped
1 1/2 pints good vegetable stock

– in a large oven dish, roast the pumpkin and garlic with a little rosemary and olive oil until golden and sweet – set aside to cool

– saute the onions, leek and celery in a large pan with some butter and olive oil until tender, add the pumpkin and garlic (which you’ve squeezed out of its skin) and saute for a further 5 minutes

– add the stock and let the soup simmer gently for about 15 minutes

– whizz with a hand-bender until velvety smooth

… and finally


Mini Apple and Pear Loaf Cakes
these are really just my Gunby Apple Cake recipe, with half apple and half pear but made into these half loaf tins… the recipe would make excellent muffins too…

…eat and of course, enjoy!

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Comments

  1. StephenC says

    You do radio? I am impressed. I have done radio, though not on a regular basis. No wonder your postings are so articulate. Love what you did today.

  2. Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes says

    Love apples and I love pumpkin! I never tire of them! They are so plentiful this time of year in New England.

    Sounds like a fun time and a lot of work was had by all at Gunby Hall!

    Your recipes look fantastic, as usual Dom, you do not disappoint me!

  5. Baking Addict says

    I've never baked with pumpkin before, perhaps its time to try with Halloween coming up! The apple and pear loaf looks really good – I'm going to try it for myself!

  7. Karen S Booth says

    A FABULOUS trio of recipes and with great seasonal produce too…..the bread looks exceptional! Good luck with your radio shows, will listen in if I can, can listen on sky tv I think…..will let you know if I do!
    Karen

  13. Choclette says

    Lunch couldn't get better than your pumpkin soup with that pumpkin bread – brilliant. Did you really make all those apple cakes for Gunby Hall? Sounds like another great event – well done. Good to know your stardom continues to rise 😉

  16. Jenn says

    Gosh, I wish I was close to you, I would at least help you get rid of all those apples and pumpkins! I'm loving all of these recipes, but the pumpkin cluster bead is what I would really love right now!

  20. Lucy says

    The pumpkin soup and bread look so comforting for the winter season! The apple cakes look adorable – love the idea of turning favourite recipes miniature.