Apple Crisp

my backyard Oct 2011

Fall is in the air. Although it doesn't officially start until later this week, here in Saskatoon the leaves are already turning and crunching under my feet. For some reason, the trees around the river always burst into colour first, making for beautiful (and still fairly warm) late summer strolls. I have appreciated the changing of the seasons more this year than ever before, and right now, I am totally in love with autumn - the crisp air, beautiful colours, and amazing smells. As we all know, along with autumn comes the familiar and comforting flavours of apples and pumpkin paired with warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. How can that not inspire love?

My sister has a few apple trees in her backyard and I have been the lucky recipient of some beautiful, large, sweet ones that I have been busy peeling, chopping and freezing for the winter (and of course baking up an apple storm - more apple recipes to come). My freezer is full of baking apples some of which may make their way into muffins or coffee cake, but the majority will be tossed into a gluten free apple crisp!

Now I know some celiac's cannot tolerate oats, and it is possible to make a similar creation from crushed up cereal (rice, corn, etc), but this recipe uses pure oats, which are fine for most individuals on a gluten free diet.

I called this recipe apple crisp, but you can pretty much make any kind of fruit crisp the same way. I like to add different combinations of peaches, cranberries, blueberries, rhubarb, etc to the apples. You may need to adjust the amount of sugar depending on the fruit you use (cranberries and rhubarb will need more).

I really don't have a written recipe for crisp. I tend to throw ingredients together in estimated amounts until it looks right. To be honest, it's pretty hard to screw it up. You may want more or less sugar, crisp topping or other spices. The recipe does not need to be followed exactly.

Apple Peach Crisp

makes 9x9 baking dish (I used a circle shaped casserole dish that holds a similar amount)

Ingredients

enough apples to fill the dish about 2/3 full (peeled, cored and sliced) - probably 2 1/2 - 3 cups
3 Tbsp sugar
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
   (or use an apple pie spice blend)
1/2 Tbsp corn starch

Topping
2/3 cup GF quick oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup GF flour (i use half tapioca starch and half rice flour)
1/2 t cinnamon
2-3 T butter or margarine

Directions

Apples and Peaches with sugar and spice

Fill baking dish 2/3 full with the sliced apples (and any other fruit). If the fruit is frozen it helps to microwave them for a couple minutes (but not necessary). Add spices, sugar, and sifted cornstarch to the apples and mix together.

In a separate bowl, combine oats, brown sugar flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter then mix with your fingers until the mixture is crumbly and no large pieces of buter remain. Sprinkle the mixture over the apples in the baking dish.

Bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes or until apples are soft and crisp is bubbling around the outside. Let cool for a few minutes then serve with ice cream.

Before baking

After baking