Fruit Crumble

As I write this, I am sitting on a balcony with a cup of tea overlooking the sea. Wooden boats bobbing up and down and a tiny twinkling island in the distance. The sun is just setting on another beautiful day...sigh.

Also there is a horse in the field in front of me that has a tendency to come up to the fence and poo right next me.

Did I spoil the image a bit there?

Anyway, back to the matter in hand. I am a dedicated blogger and Bake Off doesn't stop just because I am away! Phwoar, they struggled this week didn't they? There was no sugar-coating their pitta-ful attempts (see what I did there...)

Ugne used almond flour, quinoa flour and hazelnut flour - go Ugne! Although it might not have gone the way she hoped, I still applaud her efforts. I'm glad Bake Off did this alternative week though, it can only be a good thing! Hopefully it'll get people interested in healthier options and get them thinking outside the box a bit more.

So today I am presenting you with a most delightful Fruit Crumble recipe. As always, it is gluten-free AND there's no refined sugar in there either.

So enough from me, let's bake!

Ingredients

For the filling

4 sticks of rhubarb chopped into chunks

2 small eating apples

1 small pear

1 tsp freshly grated ginger

Grated zest and juice of a lime

2 tbsps maple syrup

For the topping

25g butter (or coconut oil)

150g ground almonds

50g mixed nuts and seeds

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsps maple syrup

1 tsp desiccated coconut

2 tbsps homemade granola (optional)

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C. Put all the filling ingredients into a pan with four tablespoons water. Cover and cook gently for 10-12 minutes over medium heat until soft (but not soggy!). Then transfer to an ovenproof dish and let it cool down.

In a bowl, mix all the topping ingredients together either with a wooden spoon or your fingers to create a lovely crumbly consistency. Then pop in the fridge for about 10 minutes and then put on top of the filling.

Bake in the oven for around 20-25 minutes.

Either let it cool down or risk a burnt mouth and gobble it straight up.

I can neither confirm nor deny if the latter happened to me...

It did, it definitely did.

I have taken my mind, body and soul away from the hustle and bustle. It's so peaceful and calming here. I never ever want to come home! Toes in the sand, waves rolling in and feeling the warm breeze upon my face. I think I'm happiest when I'm floating in the sea.

"The voice of the sea speaks to the soul"