Delicious and hearty apple crisp
Last weekend, as usual, I made my usual trip to the Guelph Farmer’s Market in search of fresh flavours to use in the kitchen. I spent my entire weekend cooking and found myself really welcoming the fall weather (and the fall recipes). I made a roast chicken, with new potatoes, fresh carrots, onions and garlic, and stuffing. Stuffing, oh, homemade stuffing – it was delicious (I’ll be sure to include the recipe for it in next week’s Thanksgiving special). I then decided, since apples are out in full force, to purchase some of my favourite kind (honeycrisp) to snack on and make my first ever apple crisp – how it is possible that I have never made one before, I do not know.
It was a lot easier than I realized to make, proving, as usual, that simple, fresh ingredients make the most delicious meals. I began by washing, then peeling, 8 to 10 apples. Once they were all peeled, I got out a 6 x 6 glass baking dish and greased it lightly with butter (salted, or unsalted – they both work just fine!) I also got out a glass mixing bowl. I cut up the apples and poured them into the bowl, generously sprinkled them with cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar, and stirred them until they were well coated. I then poured the apples into the baking dish and prepared to make the oat mixture.
For the oat mixture, I used the same glass bowl, poured in a cup-and-a-half of quick cook oats (these are ideal for baking), a few tablespoons of almond meal (instead of flour, but you can use either), a couple of tablespoons of ground flax seed, and cinnamon. I then softened (but didn’t liquefy) a quarter brick of butter, and added it to the dry oat mixture. I then used a whisk (you could use a potato masher just the same) and mashed the butter into the oat mixture. Once the oats and other dry ingredients were mixed in well and appeared clumped together, I poured the oat mixture over the apples in the baking dish.
The last step is to sprinkle a generous helping (close to half a cup) of brown sugar on top of the oat mixture. Then, the preparation is done! Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, put in the baking dish and bake for approximately an hour. Soon you will smell the deliciousness. Serve warm or cold, with vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of greek yogurt. Enjoy!
Shopping list:
- apples
- rolled oats
- butter
- cinnamon
- ground almond meal, or flour
- ground flaxseed (optional)
- brown sugar