Apple Crisp

Since apples are in abundance right now, I thought I'd post my recipe for Apple Crisp. It's sort of like posting my recipe for Chocolate Cake - everybody has their favorite one. But this is piled high with a delicious, buttery crumb topping that everyone is sure to love - especially with some homemade vanilla ice cream to go with it!

6 C. apples; peeled, cored and sliced
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 C. sugar
2 C. oatmeal
1 1/2 C. flour
1 1/2 C. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 C. butter, cold

Coat apples with flour and sugar; place in greased glass 9x13 pan. Combine dry ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly and sprinkle over apples. Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes, or until topping is nicely browned and apples are bubbling around the edges.

NOTE: You can use a food processor to help mix up your crumb topping. Process dry ingredients first, then add cold butter that's been cut into medium-sized pieces. Don't mix it too long or you'll end up with a wet, buttery mess. (Wanna ask me how I know that?) Stop when things are well-blended and still dry and crumbly, and when the butter chunks are about the size of large peas.

Sweet & Spicy Snack Mix

This recipe came from my friend, Jill. I can't count the number of times I've made this when the weather starts getting cooler. Yummy! It makes a pretty large batch, so I do two half batches in my roaster. That works out just about right.

3 sticks butter
1 1/2 C. brown sugar
3 tsp. chili powder
3 tsp. garlic salt
3 tsp. curry powder
3 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 12-oz. box Crispix
1 12-oz. bag plain Bugles
1 11-oz. bag Fritos
1 8-oz. bag pretzels

Melt butter and combine with brown sugar, spices and Worcestershire sauce. Place remaining ingredients in large roaster and combine. Pour butter mixture over the top and stir well. Bake at 250° for an hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Cool on wax paper.