By Ashley McIlwain
It’s that time of year again. In fact, it’s my favorite time of year … autumn. That’s right; the leaves are changing into their gorgeously hued splendor. The air is cool and crisp. Apples can be purchased by the bushel. There’s an overall enchanted feeling that begins to envelop us with its coziness. Yup, fall is in the air, and I’m loving every second of it.
One of the many wonderful things about this time of year is the flavors of the season. With pumpkins, apples, and butternut squash making their debut in commanding numbers, there’s no shortage of yummy treats and hearty meals to fill our bellies with. Autumn is truly a culinary dream.
A favorite seasonal ingredient for me is apples. They are versatile, affordable, and beautiful. What’s not to love? From apple cider to pork chops topped with caramelized apples to apple pie, the possibilities are endless for this ruby red (or green) gem.
With all of the opportunities for gastronomic delights that come with apples, I must say that it was quite challenging to choose just one for this month’s Table For Two. Alas, I decided to go with a tried and true, warms-your-soul, classic that can make even the roughest day melt away. Two words: apple crisp.
Is your mouth watering yet? If not, it will be!
I decided not to do my own, from scratch recipe for this one. So, instead, I went with one from Food Network made by Barefoot Contessa. With the addition of citrus, it has a hidden and unexpected tang start with that familiar ooey gooey, cinnamon and sweet goodness to follow. In my opinion, you might want to do half the amount of citrus (both the juice and zest) to really make sure the apple is the main star of the show. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this one!
Give it a try, and let me know what you think! What are your favorite fall recipes?
Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
Total Time: 1 hr 20 min
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 1 hr
Yield: 10 servings
Ingredients:
5 pounds McIntosh or Macoun apples
Grated zest of 1 orange (*you might want to do half this)
Grated zest of 1 lemon (*you might want to do half this)
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (*you might want to do half this)
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (* you might want to do half this)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For the topping:
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 pound cold unsalted butter, diced
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 14 by 2-inch oval baking dish.
2. Peel, core, and cut the apples into large wedges. Combine the apples with the zests, juices, sugar, and spices. Pour into the dish.
3. To make the topping, combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and cold butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Scatter evenly over the apples.
4. Place the crisp on a sheet pan and bake for 1 hour until the top is brown and the apples are bubbly.
5. Serve warm.
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Having tried this personally, I definitely recommend it! Tasty autumn flavors!!
Thanks Steve and cmardh!!
It WAS delicious! Thanks for sharing……..literally!