apple crisp chez nous

Yesterday I took the boys down to the library for story hour. Afterwards we decided to check out a few books. One of our finds was a book by Swedish author, Gorel Kristina Naslund, entitled Our Apple Tree. What a neat book! It takes you through the life of an apple tree during each season and tells of what one can make with apples once harvest time is here! Apple art, applesauce and apple pie, to name a few. And...a plus for Sumner, who is my little Frank Stitt in the making, a recipe for Apple Crisp! Sumner LOVES to help cook or bake anything. So, we came home, put on our Publix Preschool Pals apron and starting baking! Soon the kitchen was filled with the comforting scents of apples and cinnamon. I'm secretly hoping that this little kitchen activity will be a "rain dance" of sorts and hurry apple season and cooler weather to us here in the sun-scorched South.

I've included a picture of Sumner, who dubbed himself, "Take Home Chef Bob" (in case you haven't seen Take Home Chef on TLC, check it out, it's a really fun cooking show...here's the link: www.tlc.com/chef), as well as the Apple Crisp recipe.

Filling:
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 T. all-purpose flour
1/2 T. cinnamon
1/8 t. salt
8 c. peeled apples
(we just used 4 granny smith's and put it in a round casserole dish*)

Topping:
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. rolled (not quick cooking) oats
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 c. butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In mixing bowl, combine sugar, 1 T. flour, cinnamon and salt. Add apples and toss gently to coat. Spread into 9x13 dish *
3. In bowl, combine 1 c. flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Cut in butter pieces until clumps form. Sprinkle over apple mixture.
4. Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 35 mins. or until bubbly and apples are tender. Great served w/ whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Serves 8.