Fruit Crisp

I received this recipe for apple crisp (what seems like) a lifetime ago from my dear sister, Sue... truly the cat’s pajamas as a mother, sister and novelist. I've found that adding a tablespoon of cornstarch and a bit of sugar to the fruit makes all the difference. Don’t be afraid to add a couple of peeled ripe pears, some blackberries or even a few tablespoons of Amaretto to the recipe, either. If you use berries almost exclusively, be sure to use at least a 1/3 cup of sugar for the best flavor.

4 cups apples, peeled, sliced and pared
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats (old-fashioned, not instant)
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
dash of nutmeg (freshly ground)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Grease baking dish (8 x 8 x 2 or 8 x 13). Place apple slices in pan. Mix remaining ingredients thoroughly and sprinkle over apples.

Bake for 30 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. Serve warm with light cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.