Friday 30 August 2013

Giveaway Winner and a Consolation Prize

My heartfelt thanks goes to all of you who entered and commented on my first giveaway – how lovely it is to meet new crafty folks!

Without further ado, the lucky winner of The Hand-Stitched Home and craft kit is:

Laura Tyler! Laura wrote:

I am very new to blogging some hope I am doing this right :-). Please may I be entered. 

What a nice welcome to the blogging universe, eh? Congratulations, Laura! I’ll be in touch straight away to get your details to send you the prize.

I offer a consolation prize for everyone else, in the form of a delicious crumble topping recipe to take us into autumn. Everyone has a crumble recipe, and each one is a little bit different from the next, so I’m always happy to try out new versions – this one is a doozy, I do hope you’ll try it!

Greengage-Blackberry Crumble with vanilla ice cream

Yesterday afternoon a friend presented me with a small bag of very ripe greengages from her garden. I had a good handful of early ripened blackberries, picked during a family walk...the two fruits were just destined to be together!

This topping recipe is a family favourite, and it works well with any autumn fruit (or even the peaches, nectarines and raspberries of summertime). I baked the greengage-blackberry crumble for last night’s dessert. After two bites Bunny asked, “There’s more of this, right?” Little Flower wolfed down two helpings and was sad that it was all gone!

Oat Crumble Topping

* Make a batch (or double batch!) of this topping and store it in the freezer for an instant weeknight dessert! *

120g/ ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
220g/1 cup light brown sugar
120g/ ¾ cup plain flour
75g/ ¾ cup porridge or rolled oats
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 180◦C/350◦F. Mix together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. With a pastry cutter or two knives, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

I can hear my mother: "You could've ironed that tea towel, Christine..."

Prepare your fruit of choice – here I just cut the greengages into bite-sized pieces and sprinkled over the blackberries. I had to use a very small Pirex dish, as there were just enough fruits for a small portion each.


Sprinkle over the crumble topping


Then pop into a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of your dish and pieces of fruit. Remove from oven when golden brown, then try to contain the family’s excitement until it cools enough to eat.

(Serving it with ice cream helps the cooling process...)


The topping makes a lovely gift, presented in a glass jar tied with twine and a little recipe card.


We’ve been invited to a new home party on Saturday, and I plan to give this to the hostess, rather than the usual flowers or candles.

Have a lovely weekend everyone, and welcome to all my new followers!

Chrissie x


17 comments:

  1. Dear Chrissie
    Congratulations to Laura - a great start to blogging for her. The crumble looks and sounds delicious too. I'm looking forward to the Doodle Stitch-a-long!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  2. Congratulations to Laura!!!! I love crumble, I'll definitely give this one a try. Deb x

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  3. The fruit crumble looks delicious. I've never tried greengage and don't even know what they look like!
    Congrats to your lucky winner.
    Margaret

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    1. Thank thanks Margaret! I had never tried a greengage before, either, but I was handed a bag of these small, green plummy fruits, so I had to give them a try! Glad I did...yum! Cx

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  4. that crumble looks delic and what a lovely original gift! ali

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  5. Congrats Laura, it is most certainly a WONDERFUL book, which I am sure you will love! That crumble looks delish. My crumble topping is pretty much exactly the same, it amazing what a little oats and cinnamon can do. Enjoy, I am drooling, so thanks for that, but my bum has grown so much, I think I might have to start looking at avoiding these little treats for a while (not that I have ever succeeded). Happy weekend to you lovely xoxo

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  6. That crumble looks scrumptious!
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Caroline xxx

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  7. Congratulations to Laura!
    I love crumble and there's plenty of fruit around at the moment so I shall be trying your recipe!!
    Thanks!

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  8. Looks yummy! Congratulations Laura! :) x

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  9. Congratulations to Laura and what a lovely welcome to blogland!
    Well done to you too Chrissie, I'm sure Laura will be thrilled with your little kit as well as the magic book!
    Your crumble looks delish - mine will have rhubarb under it first time around cause I have it already, and coconut instead of oats because of the gluten problem, but I'm sure it will be heaven anyway. A lovely idea to gift it - and so nicely presented too!
    Have a great weekend and enjoy the party!
    Joy xo

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  10. thanks for the crumble recipe! I have some fresh white peaches that are just about ripe and will cut them up for it this weekend! :)

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    1. Oh yum! White peaches are one of my faves...let me know how it turns out! Cx

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  11. Thank you for the crumble recipe, will give it a try. My plum tree is doing well this year, yum yum, plum crumble.
    S xx

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  12. Congrats to Laura - I'm sure she will LOVE the book! Ooh, and a consolation prize for all of us to share.. just yummy! I could go a bowl of apple crumble (or plum or peach or ...) right now... topped with delicious custard.. :-)
    xx

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  13. I have the book and it is fabulous I am sure Laura will love it!

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  14. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe....I love crumble and this sounds so yummy.
    Helen x

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  15. Mmmmmm.......crumble :-) what a great gift idea too xxx

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