Monday, November 22, 2010

Apple Crisp Snack

This week's recipes lack the hearty-vegetarian-full-meal quality you may be used to. With Thanksgiving a mere 3 days away, the Hungry Spoon kitchen is relying on safe n' simple dinner options (tonight: Butternut Squash Risotto), so more time can be devoted to Thursday's feast preparation.


And a feast it will be. Expect a Chocolate-Pecan Pie recipe coming your way very, very soon.

In the meantime, I'll keep up with yesterday's snack/healthy dessert trend (Banana Soft Serve anyone?), and provide you with another uber-healthy dessert/snack to munch on: Baked Apples.

I first made a pan of this Apple Crisp look-alike last month during a lasagna celebration with my friend Alli. I quickly discovered that it doubled as an after-work snack (we all know I can't get enough of those), and it triples as a breakfast oatmeal mix-in. I can bake a pan on Sunday, and it lasts all week. Seriously awesome.

How 'bout them apples?

The only downside? I didn't measure a thing. Nope, just went with my foodie instincts and pulled the whole "pinch of this, splash of that" act.

Tonight, trust your own foodie instinct and whip up a solid batch of baked apples to get you through the holiday eating splurge.

Baked Apple Crisp
(A Hungry Spoon unmeasured original)

As with all of my measure-less recipes, feel free to get creative. I imagine dried cranberries would be a great addition, as would pears and maybe even some orange zest?

Ingredients:
  • 6 apples, thinly sliced
  • a dash of brown sugar (just a dash!)
  • Lots o' cinnamon
  • Sprinkling of nutmeg
  • Oats (about 1/2 cup)
  • a little Smart Balance or non-hydrogenated vegan margarine (about 1 - 2 TBSP)
  • Optional: fat free frozen vanilla yogurt
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix the apple slices with a the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9 inch square pan lightly coated with cooking spray. Mix the oats a little Smart Balance, and a dash of brown sugar if you'd like :) Sprinkle over the apples and bake until tender, about 30 minutes or so. If you're looking for a full-out dessert, top with fat free vanilla frozen yogurt.

8 comments:

  1. Holy monkeys that looks so good! Lately I've just been slicing apples, coating with cinnamon and a bit of sugar, and then nuking them in the microwave for like a minute. ;) But this sounds so good, it might make an appearance at my thanksgiving dinner!

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  2. Apples and Cinnamon are BFFs! The crunch makes them even better. Love how simple(and healthy) this is to cure that craving!

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  3. I make this all of the time. Delicious!

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  4. I've been saute-ing apples and tossing into my overnight oats for awhile now. Definitely recommend, lady!

    Way to do what feels right with your apple crisp. I mean really, as long as you have something savory/salty to get the whole topping-bit together with, you're rockin.

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  5. I so enjoyed this measurement free recipe! I bake quite a bit, and it is always refreshing when I can throw in a little bit of this...a little bit of that! This looks so warm and comforting. Thank you for sharing with me...I hope you have a wonderful week of feasting, friends and family!

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  6. mmmm i made baked apples last week :) so tasty!

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  7. Crisps have got to be one of my favorite things. I make a peach crisp that I LOVE, and I always make an individual apple crisp sometimes in the microwave. Those are perfect for those nights that my hubby is shoveling down ice cream and I am looking for a healthy but sweet treat :)

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  8. baked apple and cinnamon are the best combo ever, perfect for a afternoon snack.
    an award is waiting for you on my blog

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