Apple Crisp for Winter Comfort and Love

Another snow storm?!  Why we haven’t shoveled thoroughly out from last week’s blizzard. Chase the blues away and Bake Apple Crisp- its sweet scent alone wafting through the house is the perfect remedy for winter doldrums.  My mother, Bette Cowley always knew how to lift our spirits during the long icy winters of upstate New York.  We lived in apple country so luckily we were treated to this often.  She makes the best and this is her recipe which she gave to me when I was a young mother.  It is my go to recipe to celebrate autumn, when the crisp fall air beckons cozy thoughts and heartier foods.  Most importantly I bake it to soothe the soul and ease cabin fever in the dead of winter.  The topping is not one of those often served soggy crisps but is a firm, spicy spread, the perfect contrast to the soft warm apples below.

If you live in apple country buy a half peck of  Northern Spy, an heirloom variety which is my mom’s baking apple of choice.  Otherwise Jonagold or Cortland are fine baking apples.   Apples, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon are all foods used to promote love, peace & happiness- especially important with a house full of winter weary people!

Cortland apples

Bette Cowley’s Apple Crisp

7-8 apples

1 cup unbleached flour  or use a 1/2 cup of both unbleached and wheat

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 8 oz. stick of butter

Start with 7-8 apples for a 9 inch pan.  Peel, core and slice in chunks, use enough apples to roundly fill the pan.  If you have the time, prepare the Crisp with extra love and care.    Focus and peel the apple in one continuous circle, thinking good thoughts and wishes for each of those you’ll be serving.

Mound the apples a bit.

Mix together the dry ingredients.  Then add the egg, it will appear lumpy and inconsistent- no worries- that’s the way its supposed to be.  Spread the dry mixture over the apples.  Melt a stick of butter and drizzle all around.  Bake at 350 35-45 minutes, till the majority of the topping is firm to the touch and a nice golden brown.  This recipe can be easily doubled for a larger pan.   Serve warm.  For added pleasure add a dollop of vanilla ice cream on the side- the melted ice cream and toasty apples make a delectable combination for the senses.

 So when the wind is howling and the winter blues are knocking on your door- lavish your friends and family with Bette Cowley’s Apple Crisp.   They’ll know they are loved.

Hanging in the kitchen.

Thank you Mom for the countless marvelous meals you’ve made for us all these many years.  I love you too.

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Time to Join the 21st Century!

Blog? Me? No way!  Blogging has been something I knew I should be doing but have avoided like the plague, kicking and screaming.  As a small business owner, New Moon Magick-Enchanted Chocolates, I’m already crazy busy with advertising, social media and websites.    Never mind making the chocolates, potions, researching vintage jewelry, shipping, running the shop and an Open Market.

So why today?  I wasn’t sure exactly what inspired this morning epiphany, so I checked out the words of Arlan Wise, one of my 2 favorite island astrologers.   Aha, it all makes sense.   Moon is in Virgo (a Mercury ruled day) and Mercury just went direct!  Mercury rules communication, commerce, thinking and going direct is a time for launching new projects. Thanks for that clarification Arlan!  Check out her monthly forecast at http://www.arlanwise.com  She lives up to her name.

In all honesty, there is 1 more factor I should mention- my chocolate cauldron is nearly empty and no deliveries till later today.   Only 40 lbs of chocolate at hand tweaks  my sense of security, peace of mind.   Less than 20 lbs. in the kitchen absolutely drives me to distraction and beyond, in this case to blogging.

So here’s to Mercury direct, facing a long avoided endeavor and sharing my varied interests with old and new friends and to the occasional bare cupboard!

Now off to make the Butter Crunch 🙂

http://newmoonmagick.net

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