Apple Picking, Apple Crisp

By Mark Bishop, HSC Deputy Director

We had our annual apple picking trip with Henry and my sister. It was a blast. Teaching your kids that food doesn't come from the grocery store and letting them taste an apple straight from the tree is priceless. And when you add in that there were tractors to play with, cider to drink and fun bouncy crawling toys, it was a dream day for a three year old.

But what to do with the apples? This year the answer -- after just eating them as they are, of course -- is apple crisp. The hardest thing in this recipe is cutting up the apples. But it's a great opportunity to allow your kids to mix it up. And it's a sweet, low-sugar treat for everyone. I love the apple-picking time of year.

Apple Crisp Filling:

8 apples, cored and chopped -- I like the pieces pretty big
5 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
Juice from one lime (or half a lemon)
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Apple Crisp Topping:

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients together. Place into a large baking dish and press down to flatten apple mix.

For topping:

Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Blend the butter into the mixture until it forms pea size lumps -- I used my fork -- and sprinkle over filling.

Bake for 60 minutes.

Eat.

Enjoy.