Roast pork with crackling and baked apples

NB My own photos mysteriously vanished..due to human (my) error no doubt so these aren't the original images)



A couple of years ago, we attended the wedding of a couple of friends of ours in England.The couple in question are really lovely people and the wedding was one of those gorgeous traditional English weddings with the hymn 'Jerusalem' at the end.The wedding took place in the beautiful village of Oundle and the reception was held in a fabulous listed barn.The food had mostly been prepared by the brides family apart from the main attraction (for me)...a whole spit-roasted pig.I'm a big pork fan and an even bigger crackling fan and when the caterer set up the spit, I lingered a little longer than necessary and told him what a wonderful job he was doing (hic) in order to ensure that I got plenty of crackling.Mr Isitjustme? christened me a crackling ho for the day.
Dosn't matter, it was worth it.I'd love to do that at home and probably will for some significant anniversary but today (because its freezing) I'm cooking a joint of roast pork with baked apples.

You need :
Nice loin joint of Pork with fat for crackling (no point otherwise)

Marinade
2 tablesp. olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teasp. fennel seeds, toasted
Juice and rind of one lemon
Black pepper



Do this:
Mix the marinade ingredients and spread over the pork joint with a pastry brush. Leave for a couple of hours to absorb.
Heat the oven to 200°C
Place the pork on a roasting tray and cook at 200°C.Reduce the oven temperature to about 170 when the crackling is crisp and well browned.At this point you can add the apples and continue cooking for another 45-50 minutes until the pork and apples are fully cooked.





Almond-Stuffed Apples

You need :

1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup sugar
3 Tbsp Sultanas
2 Tbsp.Mr Is itjustme?'s port.
1/4 Tsp. almond extract
4 medium cooking apples (such as Rome Beauty or Granny Smith)
2 Tbsp. muscovado brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Sprinkling of cinnamon

Do this :
Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix together. Cover and set aside so the sultanas can soak up the port.

Peel apples. Cut off about 1/2-inch from bottom of each apple so it will stand upright.Core the apples. Place in the baking dish with the pork. Spoon almond mixture evenly into centers of apples. Place apples into baking dish with the pork and pour yourself a glass of wine.Serve with roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips.
Perhaps I should reconsider that diet?

Is it just me?