Apple Orchard and Apple Crisp

Today was a beautiful fall day. It was slightly cold but it did not deter me from my goal of Apple Picking! So away we went, Josh, Josh's mom and I took a "big" adventure down the road to the apple orchard that we have been to many times. The place was packed with families with arms full of yummy donuts, pumpkins, and of course, apples. Unfortunately I decided it would be a good idea to wear my new high healed boots out to the orchard, (It was not) but hell, I thought I looked pretty snazzy! But, as we (and I, painfully limping in my boots) made our way down the orchard, we discovered that all the trees had been picked bare!  We couldn't find any kind of apples anywhere! We were informed that Apples came in early this year, and the season was almost over. Luckily after turning every nook and cranny of the orchard, We found some golden delicious apples( just right for apple treats!) and I bought a whole bag of them (only cost me $1.70)!

So we are all back home and I am trying to rest up from my recent surgery and of course nurse my aching feet, but am getting ready to make apple crisp in my oven. I have created my own recipe, and I am constantly adding new improvements. I am one of those cooks who tries not to measure things and go on taste, so if you're NOT that kind of chef, I wouldn't recommend this recipe.  Enjoy!

Liz's Apple Crisp

For the Apples:

6-8Apples (I used Golden Delicious) 6- 8 apples Usually, peeled, and sliced.

1/4 cup of sugar 

3-4 dots of butter

Sprinkling of Cinnamon ~ 1-2 tsp

2 tsp of Lemon Juice

For the Crisp

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2  of Oats (this is optional, I usually do - makes it more crunchy)

1/2 cup of White Cake Mix

3/4 cup of Brown Sugar

1/2 cup of Butter - added a little at a time

2-3 tsp of Apple Pie Spice (more or less depending on your taste, I usually eyeball it, and taste)

• Preheat the Oven to 350degrees F.
• First you peel and cut your apples into thin slices and add them to a 9 x 13 baking dish. I add the lemon juice and toss to coat
• Add the Sugar to the apples, Toss to Coat
• I cut a few chunks off a stick of butter, and place in various places over the apples
• Sprinkle with Cinnamon
• In a bowl, add all the dry Ingredients
• Melt 1/2 cup of butter, and slowly add to the dry mixture a little at a time while stirring with a fork. The topping should be crumbly, not doughy. 
• Cover the Apples with the Crisp, and place in the middle rack of the oven. 
• Cook until apples are tender, usually around 25-30minutes.

 Yum!

We are all cuddled together on the couch (Josh and I, and the 3 dogs) while he is watching football, and I am crocheting, the smells are alluring, I cannot wait to taste!