Dirk's Favorite Apple Crisp

This is my version of a basic apple crisp. I like a little more spice than usual and extra topping! Though apple crisp is thought of as a late season or fall treat, there is always some variety of tart apple available year around. Granny Smith's are my favorite. I use a tabletop slicer/corer for prepping my apples. It's very quick and easy. For even more variation, try adding raisins, dried cranberries or chopped nuts. 

Ingredients

• 1 - 10 inch round pan, ceramic or glass works best

• 8 medium size tart apples, skinned, sliced, and cored.

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

• 1 1/2 sticks cold butter, sliced into 12 pieces

• 1/2 cup golden raisins (optional)

• 1 cup dried cranberries or chopped walnuts or both (optional) 

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• Laying apple slices flat, fill pan with apples halfway. Add 2 tablespoons butter pieces on top of apples. Fill pan with remaining apples.

• Add all dry ingredients in a bowl, mix well. Add cold butter slices to mixture. With a pastry cutter. slice butter into mixture forming large crumbs. You can use a food processor for this step but don't make crumbs too small. Pulse carefully.

• Place one half crumb mixture on top of apple slices. Shake pan to fill all crevices then top with remaining crumbs.

• Bake in oven about 55 minutes or until crisp is browned and bubbling around edges.

• Top with vanilla ice cream.

• Serves 6 to 8 people (probably 6!). Enjoy!