29 new varieties of English cider apples

The new apple varieties are Lizzy; Prince William; Amelia; Amanda; Jenny; Hastings; Connie; Helen's Apple; Three Counties; Jane; Tina; Early Bird; Vicky; Naomi; Nicky; Angela; Gilly; Willy; Joanna; Maggie; Hannah; Jean; Sally; Fiona; Shamrock; Tracey; Eleni; Betty and Debbie.

New cider apple varieties

BBC R4 Food and Farming Awards Henney's Cider

Well Done Mike Henney of Henney's Cider for being a finalist.

BEST DRINKS PRODUCER

Mike Henney (Henney's Cider)

Mike Henney started making cider as a hobby in his airing cupboard in 1996. He now produces over 200,000 gallons of his high-quality product. He maintains traditional methods of production, using genuine cider apple varieties from local Herefordshire growers. His four varieties of cider are available in leading supermarkets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/ffa/2010/finalists/

Results will be announced on November 24th at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham.

The Awards programme will be on Radio 4 at 9am on November 26th.

Good Luck for the final!

Recipe: Pork Chops with Cider and Apples

This is the American version of Pork with cider and apples.

Pork Chops with Cider and Apples

Makes 4 servings

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 center-cut boneless pork chops, 6-7 ounces each

3/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper

2 shallots, minced

2 cups hard or sweet cider

1 cup dried apple slices

3 tablespoons whipping cream

2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; season chops with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and pepper to taste. Cook chops in skillet, turning once, until browned, and almost cooked through. Remove from skillet.

2. Add shallots to skillet; cook over medium heat until translucent, 2 minutes. Add cider; heat to a simmer. Add apple slices; cook until apples are soft and cider is reduced by half, about 10 minutes. Stir in cream, mustard and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of the salt; cook until slightly thickened. Taste sauce for seasoning. Return chops to skillet; heat until chops are cooked through.

Nutrition information

Per serving: 441 calories, 46 percent of calories from fat, 23 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 105 mg cholesterol, 31 g carbohydrates, 28 g protein, 729 mg sodium, 2 g fiber

via seattletimes.nwsource.com

The basic method is sound, and you can make variations with different types of cider, cuts of pork and whether or not to add cream for example. Seems a lot of people have discovered how well pork and cider go together, but there's alwas someone else looking for a recipe. Do you like following recipes or just cook pork and cider with the best ingredients you can find?

Vintage Apple Fruit Crusher Scatter For Cider Making

This is a vintage fruit crushing machine, mostly useful as an item of interest although it's likely you could just about get it to work as an apple scratter for making cider

via cgi.ebay.co.uk

When you first start looking up information on how to make cider you may come across machines like these, but they're more like collectors' items really. You can start off with something easier and smaller.

Ross On Wye Cider Festival

Video from three days at the Ross On Wye Cider Festival

Britain's Oldest Cidermaker Frank Naish

A picture of Frank Naish from Naish Cider which James Russel has used as an illustration in his Naked Guide to Cider Book

via jamesrussellontheweb.blogspot.com

We need to document all of these old cidermakers while they are still with us.