Apple Malva Pudding

"I am originally from South Africa and this is an old favourite, made bang up to date with the addition of apples. It is always a great warm dessert, fabulous on a cold winter night!"

Submitted by: Vanessa de Beer, owner of property 8873 in the Algarve, Portugal.

Ingredients (Serves 6-8):

For the pudding:

30g butter or margarine, softened
200g sugar
2 extra large eggs
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp apricot jam
2 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
280g all purpose flour
500ml milk
410g tin of pie apples, drained, or 4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced

For the sauce:

125g butter or margarine
100g sugar
60ml water
180ml cream
5ml vanilla essence

How to cook this dish:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease or spray a 33 x 22 cm ovenproof dish.

2. Cream the butter or margarine and sugar together.

3. Add the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition.

4. Add the vinegar and apricot jam and mix well.

5. Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda together and, alternating with milk, add to the creamed mixture. Blend well.

6. Pour the mixture into the ovenproof dish.

7. Press the pie apples or fresh apples into the batter.

8. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.

9. To make the sauce, place the butter, sugar and water into a saucepan and boil gently until sugar has dissolved.

10. Turn down the heat, add the cream and vanilla essence and heat through.

11. Pour over the hot baked pudding and allow to soak in for at least 20 minutes.

Serve with:

Extra cream, ice cream, mascarpone cheese or custard.

Property 8873, ‘Casa das Primas’, offers two cosy studio apartments with private entrances and patios, and access to the large private pool and tranquil, architect-designed water garden and pond. In a peaceful setting, the apartments have open views of the countryside and sea, yet are less than a 10 minute walk from the local beach, shops and restaurants. Evening meals are available on request.