READER LETTER OF THE WEEK

Dear Wendyl,

I have a laden apple tree and I remember you once gave a recipe for making apple cider vinegar. I would like to try this with my apples and was hoping you could share it again.

Many thanks,

Jan

Dear Jan,

I happen to have the recipe handy because that is what I am doing with my leftover apples. I have bottled some for apple crumble and pies in the winter, but I also like to make apple cider vinegar. I have so many recipes which use it, from foot soaks and face washes to hangover cures. It is so easy, but you do need patience! For those readers without an apple tree, buy Granny Smith apples for this recipe. Water, enough to fill your plastic bucket

3kg apples approximately,

about a bucketful

3 cups white sugar

1 Boil enough water to fill a plastic bucket. Allow to cool.

2 Wash, chop and roughly blitz the apples – cores and all – in a food processor.

3 Add the cooled water and apples to the bucket. Cover with a tea towel or loose lid and stir daily for a week.

4 At the end of the week, strain and add sugar to the liquid. Stir to dissolve.

5 Pour into a clean bucket and leave in a cool cupboard for two months. When the “mother” (a sort of translucent leather skin) forms on top of the liquid, your cider vinegar is ready to strain and bottle. This recipe makes about 2L.