A lot of people will tell you that their
favorite fall flavor is pumpkin. But, you know what? I'm not one of them. It's not that I have anything against pumpkin, or any other seasonal fall food, for that matter. I just prefer to be selective in terms of what I put it in rather than to go into pumpkin overload.
If you were to ask me what my
favorite fall flavor was, then I'd enthusiastically answer with "apple". I love
the crispness of a fresh apple, and I love that
the taste of an apple can range from sweet to tart depending on which variety you choose. I love how
tremendously versatile apples are and how they can be used in any number of dishes, both
savory and sweet.
I think my love for apples developed when I was a child. Before the landscape of my hometown transformed due to suburban sprawl, the rolling hills leading up to our neighborhood were filled with apple trees. The coming of fall meant trips down the road to the orchard stand to buy
bags of apples and
gallons of fresh cider.
Once we were home, my mother would turn those apples into
applesauce and
cobblers and
crisps. And, right around Thanksgiving, my father would roll up his sleeves and make his world-famous (or so he said)
apple pie. We even put apples in our
apple chestnut stuffing.
No, no. I have nothing against pumpkin whatsoever. But, in my book,
the food that can transport me back to another time or to another place will always be my favorite.
What's your favorite fall flavor?
Apple Crisp
INGREDIENTS
-
6 cups
apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
-
1 teaspoon
cinnamon, divided
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
-
2/3 cup
light brown sugar, divided
-
6 tablespoons
cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus some for the pan
-
3/4 cup
rolled oats (not instant)
-
1/2 cup
all-purpose flour
-
1/8 teaspoon
salt
INSTRUCTIONS
-
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly butter an 8" x 8" square baking pan. Set the pan aside.
-
In a large bowl, toss the apples with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, the lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Spread the apple mixture evenly in the baking pan. Set the pan aside.
-
Place the remaining ingredients, including the remaining cinnamon and brown sugar, in the bowl of a food processor. Place the cover on the food processor and pulse the mixture a few times until everything is well incorporated but not uniform.
-
Crumble the topping evenly over the apples. Bake until the topping is browned and the apples are tender and bubbling, 30-40 minutes.
-
Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.
If you liked this post, consider subscribing to Taste As You Go’s RSS feed or subscribing via email so you don’t miss a thing!