The start of a new year. The start of a new blog. The start of a new life. All these things and more began in January 2019. My original goal was to post an entry to my blog every month. Sorry to say, this month ran a bit behind due to the fact that I packed up all my worldly belongings and moved across country!
The trip was long and arduous, almost longer than the first time I made the excursion back in 2013. At least it seemed that way. The difference may have been that it was something new I had never done before. Since then, I have driven back to the east coast and then drove again this third time to permanently live on the west coast. The longevity of the ride may also be because I was anxious to get to our destination. I wanted to rid myself of all the old ways and old things I knew and begin again.
This leads me to my new post. I was pondering through the cupboards of my friend, Carrie, in hopes to find something delicious to make for dessert. She is being so kind and generous to invite Jay and I to stay with her until we get on our feet; I needed to do something special for her. The options were limited. She is not the big baker that I am, but she had a few great things I could play with in the kitchen. On this particular evening, I chose to make Apple Crisp. The day had been grey and dreary with rain in the horizon, and I believed that coming home to the delicate array of baking apples and cinnamon would cheer anyone’s day. The only problem was there was not a lot of my standard supplies on hand. As all things must change eventually, I decided to revisit and possibly freshen up a favorite recipe of mine.
With a determined mind and a bag of gala apples, instead of granny smith, I knew I could conquer this dilemma. After more tweaking and substituting, the result was absolutely delightful and worthy of posting for a new twist on an old favorite. The taste was a bit more refined than my usual apple crisp, but it certainly hit the spot after a hard day’s work of dealing with crazy bosses, unpacking boxes, and driving in California traffic.
April’s Apple Walnut Crisp
Streusel Ingredients
1 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup flour
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts
3 tbsp maple syrup or honey
2 tbsp softened butter
Filling Ingredients
6 cups peeled and diced apple – your favorite kind
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 - 2 tbsp ground cinnamon (your preference on the amount)
½ cup sugar
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat an 8”-square pan with nonstick cooking spray.
To prepare the streusel topping, Combine together oats, flour, maple syrup and cinnamon in a bowl. Add nuts and butter. Stir until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, sprinkle the apples with the cinnamon. Add cornstarch and stir until completely coated.
Spoon the filling into the prepared pan, ensuring all the corners are filled. Press down lightly with a spatula. - Sprinkle the topping evenly on top of the apple mixture, breaking up the clumps as you add it on top. There should be enough to cover the whole pan. Press down firmly when finished.
Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes or until the apples are tender. Cool to room temperature for the juices to thicken.
- Enjoy with your favorite ice cream on top if desired.
