Apple Picking and Baking

     Apple season is here, which means that fall is here, too.  I like to start out my fall/ winter baking with apple baked goods.  It smells so good when they bake. Now that it is getting cool in the evenings, a little heat from the oven actually feels good. 

     We went apple picking at an orchard with our homeschool co-op this past Tuesday.  The kids loved getting out there, and picking their own apples.  Most of the trees were very dwarfed, so we could pick the apples easily, but some of them were big enough that we had to put the kids on our shoulders to pick. 

 



     There was also a little farm yard with rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, and peacocks!  It was a thrill getting to see peacocks.  They are truly majestic birds.

    Of course when we got home I had to make something with all those apples, so I made an apple crumble.  Crisps and crumbles are sooo easy to make, that you can whip one out for dessert while you are making supper.  Which is what I did. 

Here is my own recipe for a apple crumble:

 

Slice eight medium apples into 1" chunks.  Spread out evenly in a 11"x 9" pan. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine:

• 1/2 cup flour (I used white whole wheat, but whole wheat or all purpose will work too.)
• 1/4 cup wheat bran
• 1/4 cup oats
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Chop into pieces, then cut into the flour mixture, like you would for pie crust:

• 1 stick of butter.

Sprinkle the flour and butter mixture on top of the apples, then bake at 375 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, or until it is bubbly and the apples are tender. 

 

     The last step is the hardest.  You need to let it cool down enough so that you don't sear the inside of your mouth.  I usually end up skipping this step, and suffer the consequences, because it smells too good to just sit there cooling!