Apples are particularly tasty at this time of year and are perfect for eating, baking or freezing. Emma Parkin gives us some delicious recipes that all have apples on the menu.

How do you like them apples?

Apple pie
Makes 1 pie
Shortcrust pastry
200g plain flour
1/4tsp salt
100g margarine
3-4tbsp cold water
1 egg, beaten, for glazing
Filling
3 cooking apples
sugar, to sweeten
2-3 cloves (optional)
caster sugar, to sprinkle
To serve
Ice cream

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7. Grease pie plate.
2. Sift the flour and salt. Cut the margarine into the flour with a knife, then rub in lightly. The mixture should look like dry breadcrumbs.
3. Gradually add the water, 2 tablespoons at a time. Use a table knife to mix to a firm dough – mix around and cut through to distribute the water.
4. Knead very lightly on a floured table or board until just smooth. Divide the dough in half and leave it in the refrigerator before rolling.
5. Peel, core and slice the apples. Roll a circle from one half of the pastry place it on the greased plate or mini-flan cases. Moisten the edges with water. Put the fruit onto the pastry.
6. Sweeten with a few sprinkles of sugar. If using cloves, add them now. Roll a circle from the remaining dough and place over the pie. Press the edges together with a fork.
7. Trim, flake and decorate. Brush the pastry with the beaten egg. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat and continue cooking for a further 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with caster sugar. Serve with ice cream.

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Grease a 7- inch cake tin.
2. Beat the margarine and sugar together. Beat the egg yolks and add to the mixture along with the milk and vanilla essence. Fold in the flour.
3. Put the batter into the tin. Beat the egg whites with the sugar and coconut and vanilla. Spread this over the unbaked cake in the tin.
4. Bake the cake for 45 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Apple & cheese omelette
Serves 2
3 eggs

30ml water
2tsp sunflower oil
1 apple, sliced
100g cheese, grated

• 1 Whisk the eggs with water. Heat a frying pan over a high heat. When it is very hot, add the oil. It should sizzle immediately.
• Pour in the egg mixture. It will start to cook instantly, so quickly pull the edges to the centre with a plastic spatula, tilting the pan so the uncooked egg runs to the sides four or five times. The centre will still be soft at this stage but it will continue to cook on the plate.
• Spoon the filling around half the omelette, alternating apple with cheese. Then fold in half and serve.