WHOLE-APPLE DESSERTS

serves 4

 

1 cup sugar or alternative
3 cups water
1 cinnamon stick
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 cardamon pods
4 peeled red apples, with stems left on
1/2 sheet frozen shortcrust pastry, thawed
1 x 200g tub low-fat vanilla yoghurt
mint leaves to decorate

1.  Stir sugar into small pan of water until it dissolves. Place over heat, add cinn, vanilla & pods.
Bring to boil, add apples:  cover & simmer about 15 mins til almost tender. Remove from heat and cool in syrup.

2.  Drain apples, reserve syrup in pan. Pat apples dry.

3.  Cut pastry into 1cm wide strips. Press 6 strips, evenly spaced, over each apple, working from the stem to base, then trim pastry. Place apples on a lightly greased oven tray and cook in mod oven 180 degrees C for 30 mins until lightly browned and crisp.

4.  Bring syrup to boil: simmer uncovered for 10 mins until slightly thickened. Strain into a jug.

5.  Serve warm apples drizzled with syrup and