fall in love with fall.

gotta love the award winning title.  I'm on a roll, huh?   

but it's true, though.  I'm pretty sure fall has to be my favorite season.  

mostly because I love when the days turn cool and the nights, crisp.  it's invigorating to be outside when the air has a chilly bite to it. and just to cozy up in a sweater once again.  pure bliss. 

having spent the majority of my life in Minnesota, (where the weather consists of 80% of your conversations and long underwear is considered sexy) I remember quite clearly the annual trips to the apple orchard each fall.  I have fond memories of hay rides, caramel apples and sipping hot apple cider while watching the kids frolic around in the pumpkin patch and squeal with laughter as they fed rotten apples to the goats.

well, except for that one time when I was happily munching on a nice, juicy apple only to discover it had worms.  YES worms!  uh, excuse me, I just threw up a little.  but yes, worms aside, heading to the orchard was always a fun fall activity to do as a family.

unfortunately here in Arizona, we don't have the pleasure of heading to the orchards for a bag of fresh apples.  instead we have to be content with buying them from the local grocery stores, after they've sat in some truck for who knows how long.   

well, they still taste fine.  especially after being coated with a heap of brown sugar, cinnamon and butter!

oh what would fall be without warm apple crisp?  add a dollop of whipping cream on top and mmm... comfort food at its finest.

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here's the recipe:

• 4-5 baking apples (a variety is best)
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup quick oatmeal
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 5 1/2 Tbsp butter, softened

Grease 8x8 baking pan.  Peel and slice fruit and place evenly in pan.  Sprinkle cinnamon on apples.  Mix the remaining ingredients together and sprinkle evenly over apples.  Bake at 375 for 50 minutes, or until apples are soft.

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enjoy!   

and like wow!  the picture is so huge it feels like I'm sitting in the bowl! :D

-jessica