Archive for the 'Great Recipes' Category

New England is widely known for it’s changing seasons. July sits in stark contrast to January. With these changing seasons comes a variety of new activities. In the winter there is skiing, ice-fishing, snow boarding and snow shoeing. In the spring the sap starts to flow from the Maple trees. In the summer, you can swim and boat in the lakes, rivers and ponds. And in the autumn, the apple orchards open and welcome visitors to pick there own apples. Soon after, the leaves begin to change color and the cycle starts over again. As a Vermonter, you learn to appreciate what nature is giving you because you know that soon the temperatures will shift and a new season is about to begin. This is what makes Vermont an interesting and fun place to live!

Can you believe that it is Mid-September already? Time sure does fly. Before you know it we’ll all be ringing in the new year. But before we gather and sing ‘Old Long Ago’ lets embrace one of my favorite things about the quickly approaching autumn – APPLES! Apple Orchards have been a functioning staple of Vermont since the 19th century. Visit Vermont Apples to learn about Vermont Apple orchards and to find a list of orchards near you. If apple picking is not your thing, don’t worry. Most orchards have apples that have already been picked for you. Just call ahead to check if your closest orchard does this. Then simply drop by to pick-up a peck or a bushel!

This brings me to the reason why I made today’s post. I want to share with you my very own recipe for sugar-free Apple crisp.

Karen’s Apple Crisp
Ingredients
8-9 medium sized Apples (cored and sliced)
1 orange
Cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
1 cup Oatmeal
¾ cup flour
1 cup crushed pecans

Directions
Place the cored and sliced apples into a glass baking dish. Add cinnamon to taste and zest the rind of an entire orange. Mix in the zest with the apples. In a separate bowl, add in the oatmeal, pecans, flour, a tsp. of cinnamon and the butter. Mix together. Pour mixture on-top of the apples.

Bake at 350 degrees. Crisp is done when the apples are easily pierced with a fork.

Enjoy!