Get Your Free Apples For World Pi Day

Free Bramley’s available for apple pie bakers!

World Pi(e) Day is celebrated around the world on March 14th .

Bord Bia and Con Traas of Irish Apple Growers Association have teamed up to mark the occasion. To celebrate the day in Ireland this year they are calling for Irish consumers to take part in the #IrishApplePieChallenge. Consumers are encouraged to visit a local farmers’ market to collect free apples and bake an apple pie for a friend. Entering the challenge by sharing a photo of the pie or exchange on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag above on or before World Pi Day, participants will be in with a chance of winning a two nights stay at Catherine Fulvio’s 4* Ballyknocken House, Farm and Cookery School. Winners, selected at random, will be treated to breakfast each morning, a four course meal served on both nights with pre-dinner sherry, and a half day cookery class at the famous school. 

Bramley’s are one-of-a-kind apples and one of few types used in cooking nowadays. Ireland grows 1/3 of the world’s supply of Bramley apples, and is proud of its oldest orchard trees that are more than 200 years old. Five and a half thousand tonnes of Bramleys are sold at retail level every year worth an estimated €9 million. Nearly 40% of sales are to consumers aged 65+. There are 34 Bramley Apple growers in Ireland, each sharing a production area of 314 hectares.

Get Your Free Apples:

Apples will be given away free at the following times and venues while stocks lasts:

Date	Time	County	Venue
9-11th	9.30am – 6pm	Clare	The Grainey, Scarriff
9th	10am – 3pm	Cork	Mahon Point Farmers’ Market
10th	9am – 2pm	Cork	Clonakilty Farmers’ Market
11th	10am – 2pm	Cork	Douglas Farmers’ Market
11th	9am – 1.30pm	Cork	Midleton Farmers’ Market
10-11th	10am – 6pm	Dublin	Keelings Farm Shop, St. Margarets
11th	9.30am – 4pm	Dublin	H2G Market, Glasnevin
11th	10am – 5pm	Dublin	Temple Bar Market
12th	11am – 4pm	Dublin	Peoples’ Park Market Dun Laoghaire
8th	10am – 4pm	Dublin	Stillorgan Farmers’ Market
10th	10am – 3pm	Dublin	Leopardstown Market
11th	10am – 4pm	Dublin	Marley Park Market
11th	9am – 2pm	Limerick	Killowen Orchard Farm & Flower Stall
11th	11am – 4pm	Louth	The Cottage Market
10-11th	9am – 6pm	Meath	New Barn Farm, Dublin Road, Ashbourne
6-13th	10am – 6pm	Tipperary	The Apple Farm, Moorstown, Cahir
6-13th	9am – 6pm	Tipperary	Country Choice, Kenyon Street, Nenagh
11th	9am – 1pm	Tipperary	Cahir Farmers’ Market, Castle Street Car Park
9-11th	10am – 4pm	Tipperary	The Green Sheep, Thurles
10th	10am – 5pm	Waterford	Killowen Orchard Farm Shop, near Portlaw
10th	10am – 4pm	Waterford	Crinnaghtaun Farm at Cappoquin Estate, Dungarvan Road, Cappoquin
10th	9am – 12pm	Wexford	Ballycross Apple Farm, Bridgetown, Co. Wexford

Apple Pie with Custard Recipe

From The Nation’s Favourite Food by Neven Maguire via www.bordbia.ie

Ingredients

Pastry:

• 225g plain flour, extra for dusting
• 2 tbsp icing sugar
• 100g butter, diced and chilled
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2-3 tbps ice-cold water

Filling:

• 900g Bramley cooking apples
• 100g caster sugar
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• Good pinch ground cloves/4 whole cloves
• 1 tbsp milk

Custard:

• 5 egg yolks
• 3 tbsp caster sugar
• ½ vanilla pod, split in half and seeds scraped out
• 300ml milk
• 100ml cream

To Cook

1. To make the pastry: Sift the flour and icing sugar into a bowl. Using a round-bladed knife or the tips of your fingers, work in the butter and then mix in the egg yolks. Add the ice-cold water until the dough just comes together. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F/gas mark 5). Lightly dust the work surface with flour.
3. Divide the pastry into 2 portions, one slightly larger than the other, then roll out the larger piece until it is about 30cm in diameter. Use to line a 20cm pie dish or a 23cm flat plate, gently pressing into the corners. Trim the edges with a knife and reserve the excess for decorating. Place back in the fridge to chill while you prepare the apples.
4. Peel, core and slice the apples. Place in a large bowl with all but 1 tablespoon of the caster sugar. Add the cinnamon and cloves and mix together. Brush the edge of the pastry with a little milk and then pile the apples into the lined pie dish. Roll out the second piece of pastry into a circle slightly larger than the pie dish and use to cover the apples. Press the edges together to seal, then use a sharp knife to cut away any excess.
5. Crimp the edges of the tart with a round-bladed knife, using your fingers as a guide. If you wish roll out the pastry scraps and cut into leaf shapes. Brush the shapes with milk and stick on top of the pie. Brush the entire top of the pastry with milk and sprinkle over the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 25-30 minutes, then reduce the oven to 180°C (350°F/gas mark 4) and bake for another 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. 
6. Meanwhile, to make the custard, place the egg yolks in a large bowl with the sugar and vanilla seeds. Whisk with an electric mixer for a few minutes, until pale and thickened.
7. Place the milk and cream in a medium pan and bring to the boil, then immediately remove from the heat. Gradually whisk the heated milk and cream into the egg yolk mixture until smooth, then pour back into the pan and place over a gently heat. Cook gently for 6-8 minutes on a medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard coats the back of a wooden spoon. Keep warm.

Serving Suggestions

To serve, cut the warm apple tart into slices and arrange on warmed serving places with some of the custard. Pour the remaining custard into a jug and hand around separately. 

For more information see www.bestinseason.ie/whats-in-season/world-pi-day/ or www.fb.com/Freeapplesfortarts