Fruit Crisp
A lot of people I know really love the fall. I happen to not like fall very much, however. That’s more of being conditioned to dislike fall, as growing up in a cold climate, fall to me was a signal that it was soon going to be freezing cold out. Now that I live in San Francisco and the weather is temperate (read: uncomfortably cool) year round, fall feels the same as the rest of the year weather-wise. Yet, I still get that icky feeling that it’s soon going to snow, even though the snow is far away and will not affect me.
What I do love about fall is the seasonal flavor. Summer tomatoes, berries and stone fruit are great – they have a freshness that is wonderful. But fall brings a rich, spicy, and warm feeling that can’t be matched. In particular, fall offers great ways to enjoy delicious fruit. I am on record as being a fan of fruit as a snack – it’s nature’s candy. And unlike most candies, fruit is quite versatile and can be cooked into marvelous treats. And when you add fruit to a treat, cake, pie, scone, or ice cream, it must be healthy. Right?
In fairness, burying fruit in a pile of sugar and butter flavored flour is not exactly the food they serve at cleansing retreats. Instead, I try to preserve as much of the fruit (and flavor) as possible by treating it very simply. A fruit crisp is my healthy treat of choice. Tossing the fresh seasonal fruit in a small amount of sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom, while topping it with oats, brown sugar, a pad of butter and more spices produces something fresh, seasonal, delicious and healthy. It’s incredibly simple too – preparation typically takes less than 20 minutes. My favorite combinations are pear/cranberry/ginger, apple & raspberry, and plum & fig. Get creative and play around with quince or persimmon! Or if you’re looking for something even simpler, grab a bag of frozen organic berries – just quickly thaw them to get rid of the extra water the berries release through being frozen, and there is no chopping or preparation!
I’ll be enjoying our new Buckwheat & Hemp as a topping for my fruit crisps this fall or perhaps crumbling our honey graham crackers or cinnamon grahams. The options are many.
If you’re looking for a snack that doesn’t just avoid being unhealthy, but allows you to get your nutrients too, I can’t imagine a better thing than crisp. With how great it tastes, you’ll feel even better.
Be well!
Daniel
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