Apple Crisp

Variation with 1/4 cup almond pieces

I woke up late today, and good ole' Mother Nature decided it was time for a little rain. After a bit of grumbling, eye-rubbing, and shuffling of slippers, I decided to forgo my usual Quaker breakfast bowl and introduce my plastic mixing bowl to the morning. When it's overcast, I need something warm and flavorful to fill the dreary pit in my stomach. Mom's Apple Crisp came straight to mind. This was a regular made just for the kids in the dark and dreary hours before school. And boy did it give us the sugar-rush needed to run full-speed to the bus stop.

FYI: Now, you might not think this is a breakfast food. But just think of groups on the food pyramid you can cross off! Fruit, bread, and sugar. That's half the pyramid right there! (...all part of a complete breakfast folks...)

4 cups sliced tart apples (about 4 medium)

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup margarine/butter, softened

Heat oven to 375'. Arrange apples in greased casserole dish. Mix the remaining ingredients together very well, making sure flour is entirely mixed in, eventually making oat clumps. Sprinkle mix over apples. Bake until topping is golden brown and apples are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve warm with whipped or ice cream!

YIELD: About 6 servings