Apples have many uses: They can be eaten straight from the tree, cut into wedges, boiled, roasted, fried, baked, mashed, caramelized, squeezed, and much, much more.

It is apple season in Norway, and here are three very different recipes, all containing the ever so tasty “forbidden fruit”.

APPETIZER:

Baked Goat Cheese with Caramelized Apples

Ingredients

Toasted sandwiches

Goat cheese

Butter

Apples

Thyme

Sugar

Salt

Method

Put goat cheese on toast. Bake or grill them in the oven until the cheese is hot and light golden.

Cut the apples into slices and sauté in butter in a pan. When the apples are starting to become light golden, add a pinch of sugar, a few sprigs fresh thyme and a little salt. Cook the apples until they are tender and caramelized.

Serve the apples as garnish on the baked goat cheese.

MAIN COURSE:

Pork Loin with Pancetta, Rosemary and Apple

Ingredients – Serves 4

4 pork loins á 1 kg / 2.2 pounds

Salt

Pepper

1.32 pounds (600 g) sliced pancetta

4 sprigs fresh rosemary

7 pounds (3.2 kg) potatoes

1.7 cups (4 dl) white wine

16 red apples

Butter for frying

Extra virgin olive oil for frying

Method

Take the meat out of the fridge a few hours before baking it. Preheat oven to 392 F / 200 C degrees. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Roll slices of pancetta around the loins and fasten with twine. Put a few stems of rosemary under the thread.

Peel the potatoes, cut into even pieces and put them in a large ovenproof baking dish. Add wine and sprinkle with salt, pepper and rosemary. Place the meat on top.

Cook the meat in the oven for 15 minutes until the surface is golden brown. Lower the temperature to 302 F / 150 C degrees and bake on to the meat has an internal temperature between 149-152 F / 65-67 C degrees. Take it out of the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

Cut the apples in half and fry them quickly in butter with cut surface down until they are golden. Bake the apples with the potatoes and meat for the last 20 minutes of the cooking time.

Cut the meat into neat slices and serve with potatoes, apples and broth.

DESSERT:

Grandma’s Apple Cake

Ingredients

0.42 cups (1 dl) melted butter

4 eggs

1.26 cups (3 dl) sugar

2.53 cups (6 dl) all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

0.84 cups (2 dl) single cream

5 large, sour apples

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

Pearl sugar

Method

Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy. Sift flour and baking powder and blend into the egg mix. Add melted butter and single cream.

Pour the batter into a round cake pan (8.6 – 9.5 inches / 22 – 24cm). Peel the apples and cut them into thin slices. Mix the apple slices with sugar and cinnamon, and place the slices on top of the cake. Cut the butter into thin slices with a grater and place them on top of the apples.

Sprinkle with pearl sugar and bake at 338 F / 170 C degrees for about 45 minutes.

Tip: Spread 1.7 cups (4 dl) thick custard over the cake before adding the apples. Extend the cooking time by 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle with almond slices before baking.

Text by: Anette Broteng Christiansen, ThorNews

Recipes and photos (from top): NRK, Godt.no, Godt.no

Categories: Culinary Surprises, Recipes