Fall Apple Crisp
So simple, so delicious: Simply toss apple slices with cornstarch and sugar, then sprinkle with the topping from this week’s box.
Ingredients:
4 cups peeled and sliced apples
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1-2 tablespoons of butter
Farm & Larder walnut-cinnamon apple crisp topping
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
2. Toss the fruit with sugar and cornstarch. Place in an oven safe dish and add butter dabs to the top. Sprinkle the fruit crisp topping evenly over the apple slices, covering completely.
3. Bake until the topping is lightly browned and the fruit is bubbly, about 35-40 minutes.
Maple-Spiced Apples
These fragrant apples are wonderful served on top of pancakes or waffles.
Ingredients:
4 apples, peeled, cored and sliced ¼-inch thick
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Method:
1. Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Add apples and cook over medium heat until they begin to soften.
2. Add brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon and maple syrup. Cook until most of the liquid is evaporated. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Variation: This recipe is also lovely with fall pears instead of apples, or a mixture of the two.
Honey-Poached Pears with Crème Fraîche
This lovely, light dessert from Bon Appetit uses honey to draw out the mellow sweetness of fall pears.
Ingredients:
6 firm but ripe pears, peeled, cored and halved
1 cup honey
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Pinch fine sea salt
½ cup crème fraîche
Method:
1. Combine 2½ cups water, honey, lemon juice, and sea salt in large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Add pears; reduce heat and simmer until tender, turning occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes, depending on ripeness. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to medium bowl. Boil liquid until reduced to 1 cup syrup, about 22 minutes. Pour syrup over pears. Cover and chill until cold, about 2 hours.
3. Divide pears and syrup among 6 bowls. Top each with dollop of crème fraîche and serve.
Polenta Cake with Italian Prune Plums
This luscious cake is kissed with juicy Italian plums and citrus peel.
Ingredients:
4 Italian Prune plums, pitted and cut into wedges
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup polenta or yellow cornmeal
1½ teaspoons baking powder
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
4 egg yolks, plus 2 full eggs
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon or orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
Crème fraîche for serving (optional)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease and flour bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan; line bottom with a 9-inch circle of parchment paper. Arrange plums on parchment in pan. Sprinkle brown sugar over the plums. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and beat until light. Add egg yolks and eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add lemon peel and vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in the flour mixture. Spoon batter over plums in pan and spread evenly.
4. Bake about 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cool cake completely. Invert cake onto serving platter; remove bottom of pan and parchment. If desired, serve with crème fraîche.
