Such a thing as too many Bramleys?

[lsm1066]

I picked my first Bramleys today. I have two trees; one about 15 years old and one at least 80 years old. I picked about 5lbs of fruit from the younger, smaller tree (only fruits which virtually fell off in my hand) and didn't even make a dent in the number on one branch! So, apart from sending lots of fruit to the local produce auction, here's the list. Feel free to add to it. I could use the ideas!

Pies (etc)
Mint jelly
Apple sauce
Dried apple rings

I haven't tried making cider but I'm not sure Bramleys would really be suitable anyway

Anyone?
Thanks
Lynne

[SarahJane]

APPLE AND WALNUT CHUTNEY.
Ingredients
900ml/1½ pint malt vinegar
450g/1lb light soft brown sugar
900g/2lb cooking apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped
450g/1lb onions, chopped
225g/8oz raisins
25g/1oz English mustard powder
25g/1oz ground ginger
2 tsp yellow mustard seed
2 tsp mild curry powder
20g/¾ oz salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
110g/4oz walnut pieces



Method
1. To make the chutney: put the vinegar and sugar into a large pan and bring to the boil. Add everything but the walnuts.
2. Bring back to the boil. Cook, stirring more regularly as it thickens, until it is well reduced and thick - remember that it will thicken even more once cold.
3.To preserve: stir in the walnuts, spoon into warm sterilised jars and seal with vinegar proof lids. This will keep for up to 1 year.
(Makes approx 5lb/100 tbsp)


That should use a few more of your apples for you.

[ina]

I believe they store well. Just keep them! You'll be glad of a few "fresh" apples in winter.

I wish I had some... My three apple trees have, again, not produced a single on between them. One of them has died on me altogether.

[eccentric_emma]

yes you are very lucky to have so many apples. i probably would juice a lot of them too and that could be frozen.

went round my mums the other day and had an examine of her apple tree - she has had a total of four this year - two got partially eaten whilst on the tree, one fell off whilst i was looking at in and rolled off into the undergrowth never to be seen again, and the other got put in her fruit bowl. where i think she may have forgotten about it!

[lsm1066]

We just seem to have a mass of fruit! That chutney recipe sounds fantastic. Trouble is, on that basis I could go into serious industrial production, since 2lbs will be about 3 apples by the time they've got to full size! We just seem to be able to grow everything here!

[marshlander]

Our local Cyder maker took loads from us including bramleys. Very good cider it is too!

I put loads of stewed apple in the freezer. In addition to the above I also use it bulk out compots of mixed berries (strawbs, blackberries, black currants, raspberries etc) and add some when making jams when the main fruit is low in pectin.

Then there's apple wine of course!

[ina]

I would also try to preserve as much of them as possible without the need for ongoing energy input... i.e. freezing! Cider and wine is good; jam - but you can only eat so much of it; good old fashioned bottling (and it does work with ordinary screwtop jars). I do have a small freezer, and I use it for certain things, but I try to preserve as much of whatever I have in other ways. That also means I can switch the freezer off for a few months as soon as it's empty; I use the freezer stuff first, and then have all the bottled things left. And I realise not everybody has the space to store apples in their original form; but that would still be my preferred way of keeping them.

[Graye]

When I was small I remember my grandfather storing Bramleys in the cellar and my grandmother making apple pies all through the winter from his stocks. I think they need to be stored in a frostfree, dark and dry place, wrapped individually in newspaper. I still remember that wonderful loamy smell from the apples and the earth floor in that cellar. He used to grow mushrooms down there too, and store the ginger beer. I'm sure he would have loved this site, he was a mine of information for recycling and making his own food, tools, furniture etc.

You could also think about apple wine, especially if you have blackberries nearby?

[red]

We just seem to have a mass of fruit! That chutney recipe sounds fantastic. Trouble is, on that basis I could go into serious industrial production, since 2lbs will be about 3 apples by the time they've got to full size! We just seem to be able to grow everything here!

I'm stunned you are picking it already.. it was early for us last year.. and we picked in August., and we are lots further south than you..

[lsm1066]

I'm stunned you are picking it already.. it was early for us last year.. and we picked in August., and we are lots further south than you..

I know. I have a standard test. Twist the fruit gently on the stem. If it's ripe it will come off the tree easily (usually about a 90 degree turn). Ok. So I don't have a cellar (and I don't think my husband will let me store apples in his workshop, even if he does have 3000 square feet - seriously, we bought a workshop with a house attached). I do have a huge old Bejams freezer, which is already nearly full, although I'm happy to make other things. I just have this sinking feeling that we're going to get about 200lbs of fruit off of one tree and at least 50 off the smaller one.

Plenty of brambles (wild and cultivated) in the garden. I hadn't thought about apple wine. Never made wine before. To quote Jeremy Clarkson, how hard can it be?

If it's any consolation, my early plum (dark purple skin, yellow flesh) has produced chuff all this year, although I think that's down to the man who planted them putting 6 trees in a space where only 2 or 3 should be. The end of the season is going to involve some serious pruning.

Lynne

[Annpan]

Is it OK to juice bramleys? for just drinking (as opposed to cooking with)

We put in 2 bramley apple trees in February and this year 2 apples are still on one tree (which is fine I expected nowt for 3 years) But we only got 2 because I sent OH to pick them up (they were lidl, £4 each) So I can foresee a huge surplus of bramleys... but I do have a juicer, and we do love apple juice. I thought that maybe, seen as they are a 'cooking' apple rather than an eating apple

[red]

Is it OK to juice bramleys? for just drinking (as opposed to cooking with)

yeh we did - but its very sharp..so you might need to sweeten it to make it pleasant. best for juice we found were coxes. someone gave us a load of manky windfalls, we put it in the homemade press.. and drank!!

[marshlander]

I've seen a lot of references to 'apple butter' & 'apple butter making days' on American sites.
Found lots of recipes but what do you use it for once it's made?

[Annpan]

I think that you slice it and have it with bread, or as part of a dessert - perhaps like you might treat a sweet cheese?

I have never tried it though

[ina]

It's more a spread - too soft for slicing.