Super Simple Autumn Apple Crisp

The smell of cinnamon combined with the sweet scent of apples baking could mean only one thing - AUTUMN!!!

It finally feels a bit like Fall in Santa Monica... at least for the next day or two when the temperatures are below 70 degrees.

Don't get me wrong; I love the warm weather. Consistent 70+ degree days are the main reason I moved to Southern California to begin with.  However, there's the northeastern girl inside of me that really likes feeling cozy inside a fleece, or snuggly under a blanket.

When the air inside my apartment starts to get a little chilly, it excites me to turn on my oven and bring out the fall tastes and smells. There had been a few apples staring at me from my counter top and I knew that Jacques and I would soon be enjoying an apple crisp.

The great thing about any fruit crumble is that it is really simple to put together, doesn't require a lot of prep, or a lot of ingredients.  I tend to make fruit crisps with anything I have on hand.

Of course, there are the few pantry staples that are key to being able to make one on the spot : rolled oats, cinnamon, lemon.

It's a fairly safe bet that even if you don't cook extensively on a regular basis, these are things that I will find in your kitchen.  Every client I've ever worked for has at least the oats and cinnamon, and 4 out of every 5 have lemons (some even with lemon trees in their yards, as it is, after all, So Cal).

The lemon juice enhances the flavor and keeps the apples from oxidizing, but you can still make an equally delicious fruit crisp without it, if need be.

To keep this as healthy as possible and accessible for all diets, I don't use any form of sugar, or refined oils. It gets natural sweetness from the apples, and uses just a small amount of coconut oil for the topping.

Super Simple Autumn Apple Crisp 
Serves 4

Ingredients
3 medium sized apples of any variety
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 Tablespoons unfiltered apple juice (sub water if not available)
Juice of half a lemon, about 2 Tablespoons

For the topping
1 1/2 Cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 Cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 Tablespoons unrefined coconut oil

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Core and thinly slice the apples and toss them into an 8x8 baking dish, along with lemon juice.   Stir in remaining ingredients and arrange apple slices evenly in the bottom of the dish.
3. In a medium size bowl, combine topping ingredients, using your fingers to well incorporate the oil. When it has come together into a crumbly texture, evenly spread onto the top of the apples.
4. Bake for 30-45 minutes, until apples are soft and topping is crispy.

I didn't have any ice cream on hand to scoop on top, but if you do, go for it! :)