The Beginning of Apple Season and Simple Apple Crisp

The iconic, sweet scent of apples is in the air now.  The cider mill in the town where I grew up is open, offering bright-tasting cider and cinnamon doughnuts.  I bought our first few apples of the season at the farmers market last week.  They taste so fresh and delicious!  I had forgotten how good an in-season apple tastes.  There really is no comparison.  We have been munching on them raw the past few days, just enjoying the crispness and fullness of the flavor.  Because I have been craving the smell of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven, I recently made my family’s favorite apple crisp recipe, which I have posted below.  It is so much easier than making apple pie, but smells and tastes very similar.  I absolutely love to make apple pie when I have the time, but when time is tight, this apple crisp recipe is great.  Plus it is light on the butter and sugar, and allows the taste of the apples to shine through.  The health benefits of apples are well known–apples are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.  Apple crisp makes a healthy snack or dessert.  My family is known to finish a whole batch of this apple crisp in one evening!  I hope to post more apple recipes as summer stretches into fall, because apples really are a legendary staple in this area, and so much of our eating revolves around apples this time of year.  For me, apples are truly comfort food.