By Shannon Fahey of Sterilite Corporation
The fall season is in full swing - what an extraordinary time of year! The leaves are changing colors, pumpkins are being carved, and blossoming mums can be found on every door step. The abundance of apples is another welcoming sign of fall. Although apples are available year-round, there is nothing like a freshly picked apple from the orchard. Apple picking is a fun family tradition that we do every fall. It is the perfect fall activity, especially in New England! Plus it is a great excuse to get dressed up in a plaid shirt and boots and take some cute family photos while enjoying the cool fall weather.
In my family we make it an annual tradition. We invite the whole extended family which is a great opportunity to see everyone during the busy fall season. We meet at the farm and there are hay rides that bring you back to the apple orchards. My cousins and I run around the orchard trying to find the best apples there. We always climb the trees to the very top, because that is always where the best apples are. We pick so many different types from Honey Crisp, to Fuji, to Granny Smith. They are all delicious – but I must say that Macintosh is my favorite!
Once all the apples are picked, we can’t leave without getting some cider donuts and hot apple cider. That is arguably one of the best parts of the trip. These donuts are to die for, always warm and fresh.
The next part of our tradition is always to go back to my house, since I live closest to the orchard. All of my extended family gathers together to continue on with more fun fall activities, including baking fresh apple crisp for the whole family to enjoy!
To make this apple crisp we divide and conquer. My cousin washes the apples then hands them over to my aunt. My aunt peals the apples we picked from the trees just hours ago. Then my mom and I measure out the ingredients and mix it all together. We all work as a team to make this delicious dessert with lots of love, a main ingredient of course. Keep reading below for the step by step directions.
Ingredients:
Filling:
- 6 freshly picked apples
- 1 tbsp.lemon juice
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
Crumble Topping:
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 stick of butter
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2) Peel the apples and cut into bite sized wedges
3) In a large mixing bowl, we recommend Sterilite's 6 Quart Bowl, toss together the apples, lemon juice, sugar, and flour. Pour into a baking dish and set aside.
4) Mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in slices of butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
5) Spread the topping evenly over the apple mixture, making sure to cover all of the edges.
5) Bake the apple crisp until golden brown and the sides are bubbling, about 40 minutes
Don't forget to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your apple crisp when serving for absolute perfection!
Such an amazing day full of family, food, and fall activites!
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