Rhubarb Crumble
Crumbles are comfort food, vary the fruit according to the season.

Rhubarb Crumble
V
Serves 6-8
700g (1 1/2lbs) rhubarb
110g (4ozs/1/2 cup) of granulated sugar
Crumble
4 ozs (110g/1 cup) white flour, preferably unbleached
2 ozs (50g/1/2 stick) cold butter
2 ozs (50g/generous 1/4 cup)castor sugar
1 oz (25g) chopped almonds or hazelnuts (optional)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
2 pint (1.1L) capacity pie dish
Cut the rhubarb into 1 inch pieces
Turn into a pie dish. Sprinkle with sugar
Rub the butter into the flour just until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs, add the sugar and cinnamon and chopped nuts if using. Sprinkle this mixture over the apple in the piedish. Bake in a preheated moderate oven 180°C / 350°F / regulo 4, for 30-45 minutes or until the topping is cooked and golden. Serve with whipped cream and soft brown sugar. (optional - serve with Amaretto cream).
V Blackberry and Apple and Sweet Geranium Crumble
Use three-quarters apple to one-quarter fresh or frozen blackberries and proceed as above. Mix 2 chopped sweet geranium leaves (Pelargonium Graveolons) to the above (optional).
V Appple Crumble
1 1/2 lbs (675g) BramleySeedling cooking apples
1 1/2-2 ozs (45-50g/scant 1/4 1/4 cup) sugar
1-2 tablespoons (1-2 American tablespoons + 1-2 teaspoons) water
V Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble
Stew two-thirds rhubarb with sugar (4-6ozs/1/2 3/4 cup), stir in one-third strawberries, proceed as above.
V Gooseberry Crumble
Stew green gooseberries with brown sugar and proceed as above.
V Gooseberry and Elderflower
Stew green gooseberries with white sugar, add 2 elderflowers tied in muslin while stewing, removeelderflowers and proceed as above.
V Plum or Apricot
Stew the stoned plums or apricots as above.
V Peach and Raspberry
Sprinkle with sugar, no need to stew.
Apple and Mincemeat Crumble
Spread 1/3 to 1/2 pot of mincemeat on the base of the pie dish, top with apples and proceed as above. Abrilliant way to use up left-over mincemeat after Christmas!
V Variations on the Crumble
1. 1 oz (30g) oatflakes or sliced hazelnuts or nibbed almonds could also be added to the crumble.
2. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or mixed spice is also a delicious addition.
Crystallised Ginger Cream
Softly whipped cream with chopped crystallised ginger