Having a big social conscience has kept me busy over the years, so when the Cook With Us team announced this week's theme of Pot Luck Dinner to benefit @adollaraday Charity, I knew that this was a week not to be missed, especially seeing our masterchefs @chefsteve, @offoodandart and @pandamama are cooking with us this week :)
I forgot to let you know what I was going to bring to the Pot Luck Dinner, but I think everyone knows by now that I have a sweet tooth and dessert usually is my department when it comes to charity dinners.
I will tell you about some of our local outreaches.
Ethelbert Children's Home which is just up the hill from our home, was started after a tragedy struck Francis & Tom Corbishley in 1896. Their little 16 month old son, Ethelbert, drowned in a storm water drain where he had gone to retrieve a ball. His grief-struck parents decided to erect a living monument in his honour, and so they approached the Durban Methodist Central Church and undertook to donate the land and money towards the building of a children's home. They wanted this to be as real a home as possible for the children. It was agreed that the church would support them monthly and the couple further undertook to donate a large sum for the next five years.
Our church circuit still subsidises them and regularly collect and help with fundraising efforts. Further, the entire Christmas day collection throughout South Africa is given to the home, with many giving generously. This certainly helps towards running costs as the children get excellent care.
Many success stories come from this home, which today operates a cottage system with a house mother/ father.
Our women's group held annual Theatre Dinners with the ladies and daughters taking on theatrical roles and some like me, just doing the cooking as I much prefer the kitchen, definitely not the stage! We would have little skits between meal courses and it always went down very well. The funds were used on various projects.
Cost was kept very low to at least raise a decent sum with many of the ladies donating whatever they contributed, be it food or decor.
As it was on a large scale - we catered for around 100 diners - menu planning and quantities were carefully calculated, but it was huge fun, and we had fabulous fun themes.
I'm sharing with you one of the mementos I have from those years - a menu for a Centenary celebration and the theme was Shall we dance
Of course my job at fetes/bazaars was Pancake maker, hard work but really rewarding and that's where I really came to understand the phrase Selling like hotcakes, the queues never ended at the pancake store! Sore feet and sore backs were the order of the day, but nothing that a soak in a fragrant bath tub could not fix!
Our favourite charity was a home for physically challenged adults.
It always is a problem for families once these unfortunate people reach adulthood as the parents are too old to take care of them properly, and this is where Cheshire Homes excel.
Thank you to @adollaraday for the work you do and wish you much success with future projects. A huge thank you to @cookwithus for having the proceeds of this week's challenge going towards this worthy cause and for creating awareness!
Back to the kitchen, I'm baking a Nutty Apple Crumble for our Pot Luck Dinner - fresh Granny Smith Apples, cubed and spiced, with an Oats & flaked Almond crumble topping, absolutely scrumptious on its own, or served with cream, Custard or thick Greek style natural Yogurt.
RECIPE
- 3 large Granny Smith Apples
- Half a Lemon
- 125ml Brown Sugar
- 2,5ml Cinnamon
Topping - 250ml Cake Flour
- 2,5ml Cinnamon
- 125ml rolled Oats
- 125ml Brown Sugar
- 125 gram Butter, at room temperature
- 125ml flaked Almonds
Method
1. Peel & core apples, cube and place in ovenproof dish
2. Sprinkle with Lemon juice
3. Mix sugar & cinnamon and mix into raw apples
4. Mix flour, oats, cinnamon & sugar together & rub butter in till it resembles breadcrumbs
5. Spoon crumble mixture over apples
6. Smooth crumble topping and sprinkle flaked Almonds on top, pressing down slightly
7. Bake at 160C fan oven for about 30 min or till a nice golden brown
Apple roses garnish
1. Cut a red apple in half, core and slice super thin slices
2. Place in lemon water & microwave about 2-3 min or till apples become pliable but not cooked
3. Dry apple slices on kitchen paper, overlap about 4-5 slices
4. Roll up tightly to resemble a rose, trim base and use the apple rose as a garnish
I served my Nutty Apple Crumble with thick Greek style natural yogurt - absolutely delicious!
Thank you for stopping by
Comments, upvotes & resteems all much appreciated :)
Copyright @lizelle - All Rights Reserved
So that's where you learned to make those amazing pancakes! Nothing like a church function to hone the flapjack skills! lol This apple crumble looks simply delicious! One of my favorite winter desserts, a true comfort dessert. Beautiful too my friend! Love it!
Yep, must have made thousands over the years ;) I see Apple pies are very popular at this Potluck dinner :):)
This is awesome and the nutty apple crumble looks amazing. How cool that you get to do something to give back and get material to post as well :) Sounds like you have done a lot of good for a couple of great organizations!
Thank you for your lovely feedback @bozz, it was quite scrumptious, our favourite apple dessert! There's always people who need help, it's great to lend a helping hand & bring some relief :)
Congratulations! This post has been chosen as one of the daily Whistle Stops for The STEEM Engine!
You can see your post's place along the track here: The Daily Whistle Stops, Issue 323 (11/26/18)
Thank you so very much @thesteemengine!
That looks lovely.
Thank you for supporting this fundraising initiative for A Dollar A Day.
The A Dollar A Day charitable giving project.
Hi @adollaraday, I had powered up most of my steem, so have rather delegated 100 SP to your account, hope that helps with your work :)
That is very kind of you @lizelle. Thank you so much for the delegation.
Thank you so much, wishing you well with your work!
So glad that you Methodist's are supporting the home Lady Lizelle and thank you also for what you are doing for @adollaraday Blessings!
Thank you for your lovely comments @papilloncharity, there's such a big need everywhere nowadays and you see it all the time! Thank you for what you're doing for the community around you!
This dessert is incredible. Just reading your post I can imagine the smell of the apples baking with the cinnamon. I will have to make this! Reading your story about making pancakes and the saying gave me a chuckle. I picture a massive line and you flipping the hotcakes onto people's plates. As always another lovely post.
Ah thank you @loveself, yours looked amazing too :)
Always a great story and an even greater dish! You can never go wrong with this type of dessert. Those apple roses are the perfect finishing touch! I think I'm definitely with you--I would much rather be in the kitchen than on stage!
Yep the kitchen is my comfort zone for sure ;);)
Thank you for your lovely comments @plantstoplanks :)
Lovely presentation! this is my kind of dish, I love apples :)
Thank you @jeffjagoe, Apple pies are an all time favourite not so :)
That looks so good, can I have a piece
I'll send a whole pie in the mail ;);)
Thank you for your support @tattoodjay :)
LOL not sure it would travel well inthe mail
Delicious treat to say the least, excellent helping the less fortunate @lizelle
Had the motor bikers go through town this last Sunday with the Toy Run for charities, the turnout is phenomenal!
Thank you for your awesome support @joanstewart! That must have been amazing, it's wonderful what they do each year not so :)
What a such great recipe! It’s so healthy which contains the oats and almonds flakes and tha apple, all these elements are so good for health, and it’s looks so yummy 😋.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments @creativewoman :)
Apple crumble is one of my all time favorites. I just love your crumble with the perfectly toasted almonds on top and a dollop of greek yogurt on the side. What a perfect balance of flavors. Thank you so much @lizelle for contributing to this charity pot luck dinner!
Ah thank you @chefsteve, I'm so glad you made us aware of them!
This is one impressive entry @lizelle. I like have you’ve structured your pictures and to be honest I’ll do gladly have a bite on this apple crumble. It looks so yummy and delicious. Well done.
Ah thank you @foodforsoul, this is high praise coming from you, really appreciate it!