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January 14, 2008

Spiked Apple Crisp

5 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 tsp cinnamon
orange rind from one small orange
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 shot Grand Marnier
1 shot Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, orange rind, Grand Marnier, rum. Toss to combine and pour into buttered tart or casserole pan. Combine dry ingredients and cut in butter with pastry blender (I use my hands to rub the butter in) until crumbly. Spread mixture over top of apples. Bake uncovered until apples are tender and top is lightly browned, approximately 1 hour. Serve warm with cream, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce (although I prefer it plain).

I adopted this recipe from one I found in Colorado Cache Cookbook, but changed it enough that I thought I could give it to you. I love apple crisps and this one has a nice thick fruit mixture with a nice crumble topping. I generally like oatmeal toppings, but this one might change my mind about that. The orange zest cuts the sweetness a bit and adds a nice layer of flavor. I like to use apples that are starting to get a little soft and are past the point where you want to eat them alone. It's a great way to use that fruit that's been in the drawer a little too long.

Jen was nice enough to offer me her leftover Roctober yarn so I can finish my sock! I finally ran out of yarn last night and I have about 3 inches left to knit. Jen's generosity is just a small example of how wonderful and generous the online knitting community is. I'm so lucky to be a part of such a great group. I knit a gauge swatch for the Manly Maze sweater from No Sheep for You. I'm using Debbie Bliss Rialto, but I didn't get gauge on size 5s, so I need to do another swatch on 6s and see I get closer to 21 sts/4 inches. And since that sweater is a whole lot of stockinette stitch in the round, I think I need a little something more interesting to break it up. I was thinking of the seeded cable sweater from Sensual Knits. Isn't it pretty?