Home-made apple pie

Ingredients (serves 4-6):
6 to 8 small apples (Gala or Granny Smith)
2 tbsp lime or orange marmalade (reduced sugar or no-sugar)
1 tbsp cornflour
6 dried dates, seeded and cut into little pieces
1 tsp lemon juice
Pinch of cinnamon mixed with some raw sugar
2 sheets ready-to-bake puff pastry sheets

Method:
Prepare apples:
1. Peel apples, core and cut into small chunks.
2. Soak apples in water to which you have added the lemon juice to prevent fruit from turning brown. (Apples oxidise easily.)
3. Drain well. Mix apples with marmalade and cornflour. Add diced dates. Set aside.
4. The apples will release some water, and these juices will moisten the filling.

Assemble pie:
1. Lightly oil a 25cm x 5cm deep pie dish.
2. Place 1 sheet of pastry on top and ease it into dish. Use a fork to prick a few holes at the bottom so no bubbles are left.
3. Carefully spoon filling into dish, filling it right to the top.
4. Place second sheet of puff pastry on top of filling and trim edges. Seal by pressing the tines of a fork all along the edges of the pastry. Prick holes on top of pastry to release steam.
5. Sprinkle cinnamon mixture evenly on top. Bake at 200 deg C for 20 minutes or until pastry browns evenly.
6. Serve hot in wedges, with or without ice cream.

Tips:
1. Use ready made pastry sheets. Depending on your preference, use puff pastry, rough butter puff pastry or shortcrust pastry. If you like, you can even just top it with a crumble crust.
2. Use a spoonful of low-sugar or diabetic jam to coat the apple instead of using sugar to sweeten. It adds flavour and reduces the calories.

Recipe source: Today newspaper