Cook's Corner Your fortnightly recipe to tantalise your taste buds APPLE DUMPLINGS 300g/ 12oz short crust pastry 4 medium- sized cooking apples 50g/2oz Demerara sugar 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice Make the pastry and roll out thinly, cut into 4 squares, large enough to wrap round the apples. Peel and core the apples and place each in the centre of a pastry square. Mix the sugar and spice together and spoon into the centre of the apples. Dampen the edges of the pastry, pull the corners of the squares to the top of the apples and press edges firmly together. Decorate the tops with leaves made from the pastry trimmings. Place on a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven, 425-450 f, 220-230c gas mark 6-7, for 15-20minutes, then lower oven to moderate and bake for 35-40 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar and serve.

CHRISTMAS CARDS BRING VITAL FUNDS TO LOCAL CHARITY

Have you purchased your Christmas cards yet this year?  Perhaps you pick up a pack of charity Christmas cards in your local supermarket or from a large retailer when you start to do your Christmas shopping?  Well how about buying your cards from your local BREAK Charity shops? 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the pack going to help the charity's work - much more than your average 'Charity' Christmas card sold in many high street retail outlets.  Rosemary Fereday, Divisional Director for Fundraising Operations said, "The Charities Advisory Trust did a recent survey of charity Christmas cards and we were astonished at the low percentage that some charities actually receive from the 'Charity' Christmas cards in large retailers - many receiving just 7-10% of the purchase price, some even receive under 1%.  This coupled with the fact that some of the cards being much more expensive to purchase in the first place, than direct from a charity shop, means that the average shopper is not getting a very good deal - and neither are the charities.  We think that purchasing the cards direct from charity shops is a much better idea - for example, our cards cost just £2.99 for a pack of 10 - this is the same price that it has been for five years now, with half of the cost of these cards going towards funding our cause - to provide holidays and respite care for people with special needs.  "We are fortunate to have a very good relationship with our card supplier, Elle Publishing, who have kept the same cost for us year on year - even though we have ordered special 'die cut' (cards with cut out designs) and three fold cards.  "With such a mild September and beginning of October I think there are still a lot of people out there who are now only just thinking about Christmas, so I would encourage all those intrepid charity Christmas card shoppers to come along to a BREAK shop and ensure your Charity Christmas cards help people in need this Christmas."  To find out where your local BREAK shop is please call 01263 822161 or log onto www.break-charity.org.

Dear Editor,

It is very obvious that September 30 has passed.  I drove along the promenade on my buggy last weekend, and was appalled to see so much dog mess all over the place.  I know that dogs are allowed on the beach during the winter, but couldn't their owners please consider others and make sure that, not only dog mess on the beach, but also on the prom, is disposed of in a more considerate way.  Dogs have always been a big part of my life, but to let them wander around off their lead, fouling footpaths, parks and beaches, is not likely to impress the general public.  I have to travel down Holway Road to reach the town, and have seen old and not-so-old people, sliding and even falling, on the very slippery pavement.  Leaves are thick on the path, and with the heavy rain of late, you take your life in your hands just to walk down there.  I don't know which council is responsible for highway maintenance, but a good sweep would remedy the situation.

John Humphrey
Sheringham