This is a recipe that the Dorset Echo Saturday Supplement published a couple of years ago. They got it from Upwey Wishing Well Teahouse. We’ve modified it very slightly just to make it simpler - and, believe me, it can’t be simpler. When at our Food Group meetings it lasts about 5 minutes!

You need :-

For the base

6 oz (150g) self raising flour

4 oz (100g) butter or margarine - NOT the lite stuff, but butter is prefered

4 oz (100g) Caster sugar

2 medium or large eggs - depending on how rich you want it

A pinch of salt

A splash of milk.

For the middle

3 cooking apples - peeled, cored and chopped into 1½ cm (ish) chunks

1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder - or not if you prefer.

For the Crumble Top

6 oz (150g) self raising flour

3 oz (75g) butter or margarine. (See note above)

3 oz (75g) Caster sugar

Mix all the base ingredients together in a bowl and beat well adding just enough milk to get a thick consistency. With no milk the mix is just a bit too stiff.

Pour into a lined cake tin of approx 8 inch (20 cm) diameter.

Rub together the Crumble top ingredients until you have a sort of breadcrumb mix, then stop! DO NOT overdo this otherwise the topping will become hard. Try adding a handful of rolled oats for a different texture.

Powder the Apple pieces with the cinnamon then drop the them onto the mix as evenly as you can. You don’t need to press them in.

Sprinkle the crumble mix over the apples as evenly as possible. DO NOT pat down otherwise the topping will become hard. Sprinkle a spoonful of sugar over this.

Place in the middle of a pre-heated oven at Gas mark 4 (that’s about 150 deg. centigrade) for about ½ hour or until cooked. Check by stabbing the middle with a knife. If it comes out clean it’s done. If it has mix residue on it give it another 5-10 minutes and check again - and again - and ……………………………. Until cooked.

Best served warm with ice cream or fresh cream.

You could try ringing the changes. These 3 work “coz we tried ‘em”.

Use wholemeal flour instead of white. Just add the appropriate amount of baking powder.

Throw in a slack handful of raisins with the apples.

Throw in a slack handful of rolled oats in the crumble mix.

Enjoy