Recovery: Ten Minute Apple Crisp

To me, a sure sign of recovery is finding time to take pleasure in the things that you did before whatever life event happened to you, happened.  I'll never forget one of the first things I really wanted to do after I had my son was make an apple pie.  Having a newborn makes finding time for apple pie pretty challenging, especially if you're spending an hour breastfeeding and then have just an hour and change to go to the bathroom and do the other things you need to do before the whole process starts all over again.

This time, I knew I definitely wasn't going to have time for apple pie, especially given that when my son gets home I want to spend time with him, too.  But I did think I might have time for an apple crisp, and I had some apples in the refrigerator that had been long overdue for use.  So I tossed together one that I'm sharing the recipe for below, originally given to me by my friend C. (who also brought the pot pie in my previous post), and was pleased that it came together in about ten minutes, long enough that my husband was able to hold and try to quiet the baby, who had just woken up, hungry, as usual.

We also got out for a few walks this past week, and enjoyed the fact that it was in the 50s and 60s ... warm enough that I found myself taking off my jacket to fully appreciate the warmer weather.  Breathing in what felt like spring, it was hard not to feel like things were back on the road to normal, that I could live with a little less sleep, that I could figure out this whole two-child-family delicate balance.

I know myself well enough to know that this state of mind will probably not last (and it's supposed to snow again tonight), but it was nice to feel a little bit more like myself again.  Perhaps you'll have time to throw one of these together, too, and go for a short walk while it's baking.


Ten Minute Apple Crisp

3 lg. crispy apples (granny smith or other sweet-tart variety)
2 handfuls of dried cranberries(or pears, blueberries, peaches, etc.)
1 c. oatmeal
several dashes of cinnamon
1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. brown sugar (or less, or 1/4 c. agave nectar)
5 T. butter, melted

Chop apples and rub with lemon to prevent browning. Toss in cranberries.

Mix oatmeal, cinnamon, flour, brown sugar and melted butter to slightly moisten mix. You can also add a dash of allspice, crumbled almonds, peanut butter, etc.

Drop mix on top of apples in dish and bake 350 for a little over 30 min. (until the top is slightly brown and apples have softened).

Enjoy with some whipped cream, if you're feeling both hungry and decadent like I was!