‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is a saying most of you have heard of. And while there’s much debate about the origins of the phrase, everyone agrees on its general meaning. In short, healthy eating habits help to keep you well.

More specifically, including an apple in your recommended ‘5 A Day’ portion of fruit and vegetables is an easy and convenient way to boost your intake of vitamins, fibre and antioxidants.

This event was created in 1990 by Common Ground as an autumnal holiday. The initiative was intended to be both a celebration of seasonal produce and an attempt to broaden environmental awareness of the richness and diversity of landscape and ecology. It also plays a role in raising awareness of the provenance and traceability of the food we eat.

The first Apple Day celebrations took place in the old Apple Market in London’s Covent Garden to mark the return of the fruit to the location after a 16-year absence. However, Apple Day has since become a focus for activities run by organisations such as The Women’s Institute, the National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts.

The Microwave + Steam function on our  Sense Premium CMS260 Smart Combi Microwave & Steam Oven would be perfect for this recipe. This is such a versatile appliance. In fact, there are 15 different functions, which allow you to steam, grill, bake, defrost and microwave your food. And to make life even easier, it has Wi-Fi capability, meaning you can control it using the CapleHome app (which we designed in-house for the UK market) via your smartphone or tablet.

I always use it to prepare this Slow cook pork shoulder with butterbeans, apple and sage recipe. It’s a healthy, but filling, way to incorporate ‘an apple a day’ into your mealtimes. I like to serve it with crusty bread and a crisp green salad.

Slow cook is one of just 23 functions we offer in this versatile appliance, which incorporates sleek CapleTouch+ TFT touch controls and Wi-Fi connectivity. Best of all, if there are any unintentional drips or spills, cleaning them is easy. Pyrolytic appliances like this heat up to carbonise spillages into fine ash. Then you simply wipe it all away, with no need to rub and scrub.

This delicious dessert combines the best features of pie and crumble to showcase the classic autumnal duo of apple and blackberry.

It’s equally good if you serve it with crème fraîche or warm custard.

I would use the fan oven function on our Sense C2106GM Electric Soft Close Single Oven for this recipe. This appliance features our signature MotionHeat+, which means it reaches the desired temperature more quickly, and also ensures an even bake.

These are sweet treats I enjoy on special occasions. So, in my home, this recipe always makes an appearance around Halloween and Bonfire Night. Our FOSSO 4in1 Steaming Water Tap Gold makes fast, easy work of prepping the apples. You may need to cover them in almost boiling (98°C) water to remove the waxy coating, which will then help the caramel to stick.

Sear your scallops perfectly with our C8641IGM Gunmetal 4 Zone Induction Hob. It offers highly efficient cooking and uses automatic pan detection. The sleek, frameless design delivers a sleek, contemporary aesthetic too.

Dehydrated apples (see my recipe below) are great for snacking on during the day or for adding to breakfast cereals. Dried fruit is rich in antioxidants and fibre, although it tends to have higher sugar levels than its fresh counterpart, so consume sparingly.

You can ‘dry out’ all sorts of fruit using this oven’s Dehydrate function, which removes moisture from foods in order to preserve them and reduce waste. You can also use our dedicated tray (AIRFRY2) to transform your regular Caple oven into an air fryer by harnessing the Fan Heat function.

1. As soon as cut apples are exposed to the air, the process of oxidation begins and their structure starts to soften. To avoid this, you’ll want to have an acidic pre-treatment bath at the ready. Measure either 1 teaspoon of citric acid, ¼ cup of lemon juice or 1 tablespoon of vinegar and 4 cups of water. Stir your acidic ingredient and water together in a large bowl.

2. Clean off the surface of the apples with a soft brush, then slice them horizontally into pieces no thicker than ½-inch and preferably thinner, if possible, with the aid of a mandolin slicer. Coring is up to you, but peeling and coring are not necessary.

3. Add the apple slices to your pre-treatment bath. After ten minutes of soaking, drain the apple slices into a colander. If you used citric acid, give it a rinse. Otherwise, go ahead and lay the apple pieces out flat and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.

4. Evenly space the apple slices on the Air Fry 2 and place this tray onto the telescopic runners. Select the dehydrate function of the oven at 60°C for 2-3 hours.

5. You’ll know your apples are done when they’re dry to touch, but double-check by folding a sample slice in half. If your oven-dried fruit is ready, the pieces won’t stick when you fold them. So, if they do, this will be due to remaining sugar and moisture. You can also tear one piece in half and see if any remaining juices bead up along the torn edge. If so, they need a little more time. Finally, if you’re trying to make chips, you’ll know you’ve done so successfully if they snap when you bend them.

6. Remove your dehydrated apples from the oven and let them cool on the rack for about 30 minutes – this is called conditioning. Then, place them in airtight packaging, preferably a glass jar, in a dark location right away. For the first week, feel free to shake them often to help them to continue to stay dry.