/ 27 March 2023

What’s On My Table – With Alexandra Dudley

Alexandra Dudley is a food columnist, cookbook author and host of the Come For Supper podcast. In this monthly column, she takes us inside her east London kitchen to show us what she’s cooking and the tools she’s loving. This time, it’s a twist on porridge – plus, three of her favourite kitchen accessories…

By Alexandra Dudley /

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It seems almost foolish to write down a recipe for porridge. More often than not, porridge is a dish I find most people have their own personalised take on – a Goldilocks concoction made just the way they like it. Perhaps you like yours with honey or maple syrup, or sprinkled with sea salt. Maybe you make it with almond milk, or prefer to stir through a spoonful of cream.

At the moment, I am topping my porridge with these cinnamon buttered apples. They are deliciously sticky and soft and will last for about a week in the fridge. I love to add some grated apple to my porridge as it cooks too, and finish it off with a big blob of almond butter. If you are looking for a way to jazz up your porridge (or yogurt or muesli) I recommend giving these apples a go. I’ve shared a very loose recipe for the way I make my porridge too. Serve with a good coffee. I love the Market Blend from Caravan. It has a great subscriptions service, so you’ll never run out.

Spiced Apple Porridge With Cinnamon Buttered Apples

Serves

2-4

Total Time

20 Minutes

Ingredients

For the cinnamon buttered apples

50g of butter

50g of caster sugar

1 tsp of cinnamon

3 apples, cored and sliced

For the porridge

½ mug of porridge oats

½ apple, grated

Pinch of ground cinnamon

Milk of your choosing

Method

Step 1

Add the butter to a frying pan and place over gentle heat. Add the sugar and cinnamon and stir until glossy with the butter melted and the sugar dissolved.

Step 2

Add the sliced apples and cook over a gentle heat for 8-10 minutes tossing regularly until the apples are soft and the caramel has thickened slightly.

Step 3

Make your porridge the way you like it, or do as I do and add the oats, grated apple, cinnamon and enough milk to cover everything into a small saucepan over a medium heat. Cook gently for about 6-8 minutes until the oats are cooked and the porridge has thickened, adding more milk if you need it.

Step 4

Spoon the cinnamon buttered apples over your porridge alongside a spoonful of almond or peanut butter if you like.

THE THREE THINGS ALEXANDRA'S LOVING THIS MONTH

Torno Candles - Set Of 3, £39 | Ferm Living

I often use candles as ornaments around the home and these will look chic on a coffee table or mantlepiece.

Visit EarlOfEast.com

Cotton Hand Towel, £29 | Hay

I’ve been doing a bit of a spring clean recently and have upgraded my hand towels to these rather fabulous chequered ones. The cappuccino colourway is my favourite.

Visit EarlOfEast.com

Medium Enamel Dish, £23 | Toast

I love a dish that can go straight from the oven to the table. These enamel dishes are great for roasting veggies and look really lovely on a dinner table.

Visit Toa.st

For more from Alexandra, follow her @AlexandraDudley or visit AlexandraDudley.com.