Vegie Smugglers

Cold toes? Try hot fruit.

Well, we’ve warmed up with fish pie and chilli, but REALLY, winter is all about the sweeties isn’t it! I crave them so much more at this time of year. Trying to make them more justifiable, I like to cram them with fruit. Here’s a yummy crumble that is easy to make and even easier to eat! Enjoy.

Apple and pears make this crumble totally healthy, right?

Canola oil cooking spray
20g unsalted butter
3 apples & 2 pears, peeled, cored and sliced into a variety of sizes (to give a good variety of texture)
Zest of ½ lemon
2 tbsp caster sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
²/³ cup plain flour
¼ tsp salt
80g butter, diced
¼ cup brown sugar
3 tbsp rolled oats
Handful of very finely chopped mixed nuts (any combination of almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios or walnuts)
Vanilla ice-cream, to serve

Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a medium–sized baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt the butter in a large frying pan over high heat. Add the apples and pears. Toss until soft (6-8 minutes). Mix through the lemon zest, sugar and cinnamon. Spoon into the baking dish.

Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt. Toss in the butter and use your fingers to rub it into the flour until you have the consistency of breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar, oats and nuts.

Scatter the crumble mix over the top of the fruit and bake for 30–35 minutes until the top is golden and the fruit is soft.
Serve with ice cream.

SERVES 2 ADULTS & 3 KIDS