dried apple rings

Dried apple rings was the obvious solution. All you need for this recipe are apples, a cutting board, a sharp knife and lemons. You also need a bowl to soak the apples in, a measuring cup for the lemon juice and water, plus a baking sheet and wire rack for the oven.

OK, this recipe required a lot of dishes, too, but at least most of them could be loaded in the dishwasher. It’s my kids’ job to unload that!

DRIED APPLE RINGS

• 1 tablespoon citric acid or lemon juice
• Firm, unblemished apples, cored, peeled or unpeeled, and cut into thin rings

Heat the oven to its lowest setting. Dissolve the citric acid in 1.2 liters cold water or you can make up a solution of one part lemon juice to four parts water. Both are effective but using citric acid will preserve the apples for longer.

Add the apples, ensuring they are completely submerged. Leave to sit for 5 minutes. Do this in batches.

Arrange the apple slices on racks and place in the oven, using a skewer to hold the door ajar. At 170 degrees, they will be read (quite chewy) within two hours.

Recipe adapted from countryliving.co.uk