Apple Crisp Made EASY!

Want to make tasty apple crisp that is healthy and lower in sugar as well? Forget the trendy, complicated recipes from ex-convicts (are you listening Martha???) Here's a simple illustrated recipe for apple crisp! And it doesn't matter if you're not a chef or have never made an apple crisp before! Following these illustrated directions ANYONE can cook a perfect apple crisp for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any occasion! Now, having said that; I prefer "apple crunch" which is less dry and tastier - click here for the apple crunch recipe. And if you would rather make Apple Cobbler or Apple Crumble, click on the links!

Ingredients

• Apples - 4 to 5 cups of peeled, cored, sliced apples. That will require about 8 medium or 5 large apples of fresh, sweet varieties: Best is Honeycrisp.After that: Gala, Fuji, Jonagold, Red Delicious, Jonathon. If you can't get any of these, then try McIntosh, Winesap, Rome, etc.
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (it's hard to substitute Splenda for brown sugar - it won't have the flavor.You might be able to do 1/4 brown sugar and 1/4 Splenda. If you really want to, you can try honey, but it won't be the same)
• 3/4 cup oatmeal (like Quaker Oats oatmeal - regular or quick cooking, but uncooked - NOT instant or packets of oatmeal mixes; just plain rolled oats)
• 1/3 cup flour (plain, all-purpose flour, white or whole wheat, as you prefer)
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup apple juice or water
• Optional: 1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts
• Seasonings:

  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  1/4 teaspoon ginger
  1 teaspoon cinnamon
   

Directions:

Step 1- Wash the apples

Just wash them in cold water, no soap. We're going to remove the skins anyway, so don't spend too much time on it. You can remove any stickers that the grocery store put on the apples, though.Peelers often get suck on those.

Step 2 - Peel the apples

The fastest way to peel the apples is one of these peelers!With firm apples, it takes about 20 seconds per apple. These apple peelers don't work well on soft, mushy apples or apples with soft spots on them. In that case your stuck with a hand peeler!

Once they're peeled, remove any remaining brown spots (see the photo at left - before removing the blemishes.)

Step 3 - Core and slice the apples

You can use a knife, but the $5 corer/slicer you see in the photo is available at any kitchen store (Bed, Bath and beyond, Wal-Mart, etc.), and is the fastest, easiest way. But any slices that are between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch thick will do.

Remove seeds, stems, any hard parts near the seeds and and brown or soft spots.

Put the apple slices into a lightly greased baking dish (about 9 inch square, 2 inches deep)(any shape will do!).You can use vegetable cooking spray instead of vegetable shortening, if you prefer.

Step 4 - Mix the dry ingredients

Mix the 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/3 cup diced butter, 3/4 cup of oats, 1/3 cup of flour, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 cup of apple juice or water and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice in a mixing bowl.

Mix them well, by hand with a whisk, or an electric mixer.

Step 5 - Pour the dry ingredients over apples.

Sprinkle the dry mixture evenly over the 4 or 5 cups of apple slices, in the baking dish.

Step 6 - Bake

Bake at 350 F for about 45 minutes, or until a fork or toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Step 7 - Done

Let it cool until you won't burn your mouth! Serve warm. Makes 8 servings.