the kickshaw kitchen: Quick & Easy Apple Crisp

These past few days had been so hot and humid, you can probably die getting fried under the sun. Yes, it's summer, but it's freakin' hot.

I have a cake in mind that I want to try, but the summer heat is just so unbearable in the kitchen even in the mornings. Here's to hoping that I get to go home early this Friday so that I can do my baking experiment at dawn when there's no sun. That's something you can look forward to this weekend.

But then again, dessert is dessert. The quicker it can be done, the better. And I will literally do anything (yes, that includes waking up earlier than the usual) to make one just enough to satisfy the sweet cravings. Although the easiest way is to buy myself something from the nearby stores, I still prefer something home-baked (and use up our hoarded blood oranges), just like a good serving of apple crisp I've been craving since the birthday weekend that goes well with the Arce Dairy's Caramel ice cream I bought in the grocery.

The apple filling was still warm, thus instantly melting the caramel ice-cream seconds before I snapped a photo.

Quick & Easy Apple Crisp
(Adapted from Savory Sweet Life)
good for 1 but can be shared by 2

Apple Filling
2 medium-sized apples, peeled, cored & sliced (I used Gala apples which is what we have in the fridge, but I still prefer Granny Smith)
juice of 1 blood orange
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Crisp Topping
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a microwave-safe bowl, prepare the apple filling by mixing the brown sugar, cornstarch, ground cinnamon and nutmeg. Throw in the sliced apples and the blood orange juice. Make sure that the apples are well coated with the mixture. Set aside while you make the crisp topping.

With a frying pan on medium heat, prepare the crisp topping by melting the unsalted butter and mixing in the flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, baking soda and ground cinnamon. Stir constantly so that you won't end up burning it while frying the mixture. You need to have it toasted and crisp which makes your mixture golden brown (not burned brown). Set aside.

Back to the apple filling, microwave the bowl for three installments of one-minute each, mixing the apples in between. Once done, let it stand for 5 minutes then sprinkle the crisp topping over the apple filling.

See, all you need is a microwave, although you can still use the oven to bake it. But then again, microwave tends to make things quicker. And you only need one bowl to make the whole dessert, no need to clean up the edges of the bowl as it gives the homey rustic vibe.