fall is the time for apples. whether they are in a salad roasted and served with pork or in a dessert you can’t go wrong. one of my favorite and simplest fall deserts is an apple crisp. i love the rustic version that has a bit of fresh thyme and a crumble topping that is as good for you as it is delicious. the great thing about this dessert is 1) it’s simple to make; 2) it has a balanced amount of butter and sugar so compared to many desserts it is a much healthier choice; and 3) you can serve this easily as a weeknight treat or for a dinner party on the run. start with your favorite apple. i recommend a crispy and tangy one like gala pink lady and honey crisp (avoid mealy apples such as red delicious). from there cut up the apples (i leave the skin on mine) into small chunks (nickel size). toss them in a bowl with fresh thyme (about 1 tablespoon per 4 whole apples) a bit of agave nectar or honey and a light sprinkle of flour. you can add either dried or fresh cranberries for more flavor and a great boost of antioxidants. for the topping combine rolled oats chopped almonds or pecans butter brown sugar and shredded coconut. bake in individual dishes or a large baking dish for about 20-30 minutes. serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream. this is a great dessert for the holidays and can be made a few days ahead of time and reheated before serving. apples add another simple and healthy flavor boost to pork or chicken dishes. roast apples with a bit of rosemary sage or thyme. serve this hot savory topping over your meat. present the dish on a large white plate with a few fresh sprigs of rosemary and look how fancy you are now!
what are some easy ways to serve apples?